Mets pitcher Jenrry Mejia 1st to draw lifetime drug ban

New York Mets reliever Jenrry Mejia has received a lifetime ban from the MLB after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs for the third time since April, MLB.com’s Rich MacLeod first reported.

Mejia, 26, is also prohibited from playing minor-league baseball and with concurrent pro leagues in other countries, including Japan, South Korea and Mexico. Independent leagues are not compelled to honor MLB suspensions but may choose to do so. With this third and final positive test, Mejia’s ban is now for life. He served a 80-game suspension at the start of the season after testing positive for stanozolol.

In a statement to the media, the Mets said they were “deeply disappointed” in Mejia and “fully support MLB’s policy toward eliminating performance-enhancing substances from the sport”.

Mejia, the Dominican righty, ostensibly finishes his Major League Baseball career with a 9-14 record, a 3.68 ERA, 162 strikeouts, and 28 saves. Mets officials reasoned that despite Mejia letting down the team, he was worth bringing back to the organization because he would receive only a prorated portion of his salary – less than $1 million – and be eligible for the postseason. 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.