Mets minor leaguer Iriki gets 50-game doping ban

NEW YORK (Reuters) – New York Mets minor league pitcher
Yusaku Iriki has been suspended for 50 games after testing
positive for a performance enhancing substance, Major League
Baseball announced on Friday.

The Japanese 33-year-old had been playing for the Mets’
Triple A team in Virginia, the Norfolk Tides and becomes the
first player punished under baseball’s stricter anti-doping
rules adopted because of alleged steroid use in the game.

“The Mets are obviously disappointed that a member of our
organization has tested positive. The Mets are fully supportive
of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Policy,” the National
League team said in a statement.

The substance in question was not identified, in keeping
with Major League Baseball’s policy.

Iriki, who signed with the Mets in January after playing
professionally in Japan, was 1-2 with a 3.74 ERA at Norfolk.