Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, among the dozen players who accepted 50-game suspensions from Major League Baseball on Monday for ties with the Biogenesis anti-aging clinic in Florida, blamed his situation on a gastrointestinal illness. Cruz's statement:
Nelson Cruz: Biogenesis suspension resulted from ‘infection’
Need to gain weight for the 2012 season, the outfielder says.
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
I have been notified by the Commissioner of Major League Baseball that I have been suspended for 50 games for violation of the Joint Drug Agreement. I have decided to accept this suspension and not exercise my rights under the Basic Agreement to appeal. From November, 2011 to January, 2012, I was seriously ill with a gastrointestinal infection, helicobacter pylori, which went undiagnosed for over a month. By the time I was properly diagnosed and treated, I had lost 40 pounds. Just weeks before I was to report to spring training in 2012, I was unsure whether I would be physically able to play. Faced with this situation, I made an error in judgment that I deeply regret, and I accept full responsibility for that error. I should have handled the situation differently, and my illness was no excuse. I am thankful for the unwavering support of my family, friends, and teammates during this difficult time. I look forward to regaining the trust and respect of the Rangers organization, my teammates, and the great Rangers’ fans, and I am grateful for the opportunity to rejoin the team for the playoffs.
This is a bit like saying, “The common cold forced me to rob that bank,” but we all tell each other a lot of lies over time to be able to sleep at night. This would seem like one of them.
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