Mets pitcher Mejia gets record life doping ban from MLB

Mets pitcher Mejia gets record life doping ban from MLB

NEW YORK - Major League Baseball issued the toughest doping ban in its history Friday, imposing a life ban on New York Mets pitcher Jenrry Mejia after a third positive test for steroids.

Jenrry Mejia pitches for the New York Mets during a game against the Detroit Tigers on March 6, 2015 in Port St. Lucie, Florida

The 26-year-old Dominican right-hander tested positive for Boldenone in his most recent violation.

Mejia was already in the midst of a 162-game suspension for both Boldenone and Stanozolol from a positive test last July. And that came on the heels of an 80-game ban earlier in the 2015 season for Stanozolol while he was on the disabled list for an elbow injury.

The life ban is the longest ban issued by Major League Baseball for using banned performance-enhancing drugs. All time major league hits leader Pete Rose also received a life ban, but that was for betting on baseball games.

"We were deeply disappointed to hear that Jenrry has again violated Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program," the Mets said in a statement. "We fully support MLB's policy toward eliminating performance enhancing substances from the sport."

Mejia went 9-14 with a 3.68 earned-run average in 113 major league appearances, all for the Mets from 2010-2015. He was the Mets closing relief pitcher last year on opening day but his injury saw Jeurys Familia take over that role and help the Mets win the National League title before losing to Kansas City in last year's World Series.

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