Mets' Mejia plans to appeal lifetime ban
Though Jenrry Mejia is poised to become the first player ever to receive a lifetime ban from Major League Baseball for performance-enhancing drug use, the beleaguered reliever isn't going down without a fight.
On Friday, shortly after Mejia's expulsion from MLB was announced following his third positive test for performance-enhancing drugs - this time, for Boldenone - the 26-year-old told Dominican reporter Hector Gomez he intends to appeal the ruling.
Related: Mets' Mejia receives lifetime ban for 3rd drug violation
"I'm going to appeal," Mejia told Gomez in Spanish, as translated by Maria Guardado of NJ.com. "Win or lose, I have a lot of faith. I have to clear my name. I'm not going to sit back and do nothing. I'll take this case to the very end. It's not as they [MLB] say. I'm sure that I didn't use anything."
Mejia, who was tendered a contract by the New York Mets in December despite receiving an 162-game suspension in July, will be eligible to apply for reinstatement in one year. He will still have to sit out a minimum of two years, however, even if commissioner Rob Manfred lifts his ban.
After enjoying a breakout campaign with the Mets in 2014 - he logged 28 saves with a 3.65 ERA in 63 appearances - Mejia spent almost the entire first half of last season on baseball's ineligible list, receiving an 80-game suspension in April after testing positive for Stanozolol.
"As much as it hurts, as much as we love Jenrry as a teammate, when you make a mistake, you’re going to be punished," teammate David Wright said at the time.
Though Mejia returned to New York's bullpen in July, he made just seven appearances - without allowing a run, incidentally - before testing positive for a second time. The resulting 162-game suspension would've kept him out of action until July before this latest incident.
Now, following a third positive test, Mejia's future in professional baseball is tenuous at best. According to ESPN's Adam Rubin, suspensions levied by MLB "may be honored" by professional leagues in other countries, including Japan, Korea, and Mexico.