Sunday, February 15, 2009
CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — When J.C. Romero returns to the mound after serving a 50-game suspension, the Philadelphia Phillies reliever surely will hear some boos, steroid chants and other derisive insults.
The 32-year-old lefty is ready, but wants it known he does not consider himself a cheater.
“I didn’t do nothing wrong,” Romero said Saturday when pitchers and catchers reported to camp for the World Series champions.
“It’s ridiculous. I don’t think I should be suspended 50 games. It doesn’t make any sense to me. They have some rules they have to follow, and it’s very unfortunate that I have to be the one paying the price. In my mind, I think it’s insane. I think it’s unfair. I’m being, they say, negligent, but then I’m being accused as somebody who takes steroids. That doesn’t fly too well. But it is what it is.”
Romero was suspended last month for testing positive for a banned substance after taking an over-the-counter supplement. He didn’t use an illegal drug, but his name will forever be linked with players who took steroids.
“My understanding, to juice, is like perhaps you go, let’s say to an alley, and stick a needle in your rear end,” Romero said. “That wasn’t the case. I didn’t think that was fair for me to be suspended that way. The truth will set me free in the end.”
Romero, a key member of a strong bullpen that helped the Phillies win their first championship since 1980, said he walked into a national chain vitamin store and purchased a supplement he thought was safe.
Turns out that product — 6-OXO — contained androstenedione, a substance that Mark McGwire used in the 1990s and now is banned by Major League Baseball.
“I didn’t cheat the game of baseball,” Romero said. “I did, according to my understanding, everything by the book. It’s unfortunate that the arbitrator didn’t see it that way and I have to pay the consequences of perhaps maybe a wrong ruling.”
Romero’s situation is an example for other players. Now they’ll be sure to get supplements cleared before using them.
“I think anything that’s available to the public should be available to everybody,” pitcher Cole Hamels said. “We’re on such a tight leash and I understand completely because I want it to be as fair as possible, but when you have a situation like J.C. and a couple of the other guys have had to deal with, it’s unfair.”
2008, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.