Veteran catcher Taylor Teagarden has been suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball, for violating the league’s drug program.
According to the New York Daily News, Teagarden was not suspended for failing a drug test.
Teagarden, 32, a free agent who played with the Cubs last season, was suspended for violating baseball’s drug program (a non-analytical), and not for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
That’s particularly notable, because Teagarden appeared on camera in Al Jazeera’s documentary “The Dark Side” — which explored steroid use in sports — and admitted to using a banned substance.
MLB suspends journeyman Taylor Teagarden for 80 games. Remember, he was the only athlete caught on tape in the Al Jazeera documentary.
— T.J. Quinn (@TJQuinnESPN) April 1, 2016
Here’s Teagarden admitting to using PEDs in the underdcover video (29:30 mark):
“I used (Delta 2) last year (2015). I was scared to be honest with you,” Teagarden says in the film. “I took it for like two weeks and I had a test four weeks after my last administration of it. Nothing happened.
Teagarden was the only athlete caught on camera admitting to PED use, but the documentary alleged retired Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, Washington Nationals infielder Ryan Zimmerman. and Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Ryan Howard were also linked to PED use. Both Zimmerman and Howard have pending lawsuits against Al Jazeera over the claim.
Now, Teagarden’s suspension doesn’t necessarily incriminate Manning or the other athletes. Teagarden was caught on camera admitting to using PEDs, while Manning and co. haven’t. That’s a biggie. Heck, it’s hard to say if his suspension was linked to his admission of PED use, but it wouldn’t be at all surprising if the two were related.
The Daily News reports Teagarden won’t appeal the decision, and will start his suspension opening day.
The 32-year-old has played on the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, and Chicago Cubs over eight seasons in the majors. He is a currently a free agent, and it may stay that way for a while when you factor in the suspension, along with the fact his highest batting average over the last four seasons is .200.
We’ll update the story should more news break.
