Padres CF Cameron suspended 25 games

Mike Cameron has been suspended 25 games for testing positive a second time for a banned stimulant.

New York, NY - San Diego Padres center fielder Mike Cameron has been suspended 25 games by Major League Baseball for testing positive a second time for a banned stimulant, the league announced Wednesday.

The positive test violates the league’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The suspension will be enforced at the beginning of the 2008 season for Cameron, who is eligible to file for free agency.

“The one thing that I wanted to make sure that was explained when people started getting pieces of this is no steroids,” said Cameron on Wednesday when he called into 1090 AM in San Diego, the Padres’ flagship station. “I never took nothing like that before in my life, and it would be 50 games if I did.

“It’s a tough pill to swallow,” added Cameron.

Cameron, 34, is entering his 14th season in the majors. He batted .242 last season with 21 homers and 78 RBI for the Padres. He is a career .251 hitter with 216 homers and 786 RBI with the White Sox, Reds, Mariners, Mets, and San Diego, where he played the last two seasons.

Padres CEO Sandy Alderson released a statement Wednesday regarding Cameron’s suspension.

“Mike has been a valuable member of the Padres over the last two seasons who has been respected for his contributions on the field, his stature in the clubhouse and his involvement in the San Diego community,” said Alderson.

“Accordingly, the Padres are extremely disappointed that Mike has tested positive for a stimulant banned by MLB’s drug policy. Nonetheless, the Padres staunchly support that policy and hope that Mike’s suspension serves as a reminder that performance-enhancing drugs have no place in professional sports,” said Alderson.

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