Relief pitcher J.C. Romero has been suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball for violating their anti-doping policy.

While Romero isn’t the first player to be suspended for the use of performance enhancing drugs, his situation is different than most. The league doesn’t feel he’s a cheat, but that he’s guilty of “negligence” for using a supplement that contained banned substances. I still don’t see where there was any “negligence.”

Romero purchased a supplement at GNC in Cherry Hill, NJ. Prior to taking this supplement Romero went over it with his trainer and the MLB Players Association. All parties said the supplement contained no banned substances. Since this was an over-the-counter, FDA regulated supplement, there should have not been an issue.

Romero failed a drug test in August, than another in September. Major League Baseball reviewed what Romero was taking and found something that will trigger a positive result. Unfortunately, no one from the league or the MLBPA informed Romero.

“One thing I’m going to say, I’m a man and I’m accountable for my actions,” the Phillies reliever said in a telephone interview with Phil Sheridan of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “If I’m guilty of something, you know what? I will face it. But I’m not guilty, and I’m not letting people that don’t really know me judge me over something and accuse me of something that I didn’t do.”

Since Romero was found guilty of “negligence,” not use of a performance enhancing device (PED), the league offered to cut his suspension in half if he admitted that he was guilty. Romero refused. The league then offered to cut the suspension in half if he started serving it immediately. This was in mid-September and would have caused Romero to miss the entire postseason. He again refused, meaning Major League Baseball will announce today that Romero will be suspended 50 games for violating the league’s drug policy.

I can’t begin to express what an outrage this is. Romero did his due diligence prior to taking this substance to avoid any situation like this. He was informed there were no banned substances. Where is the negligence? For the league to make offers to cut his suspension in half tells me they know they are in the wrong and are trying to save face. Commissioner Bud Selig needs to do the right thing here and not suspend Romero for any games. We all know the dangers of performing enhancing drugs but in this case it was Major League Baseball and the Players Union who dropped the ball, not J.C. Romero.

If Selig does announce the suspension, the MLBPA must file a grievance regarding this matter (although they are as much at fault for failing to inform Romero). Romero’s name needs to be cleared of any wrong doing and he should be in the bullpen when the Phillies open the season against the Atlanta Braves.