Goodfellas
06-26-2009, 03:24 PM
DETROIT (AP) -- Puerto Rico catcher Geovany Soto (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/players/7662) will not be suspended by Major League Baseball or his Chicago Cubs (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/teams/cubs) club after testing positive for marijuana at this year's World Baseball Classic.
Soto, last season's National League rookie of the year, drew a two-year ban from international competition by the International Baseball Federation.
"I am embarrassed by my lapse in judgment," he said in a statement released during Thursday's 6-5 loss to Detroit. "While I fully acknowledge my inappropriate behavior, I want to assure my fans and my family that this was an isolated incident.
"I fully understand the ramifications of my actions. I have and will accept any and all consequences."
Soto hit .285 with 23 home runs and 86 RBIs last year and started the MLB All-Star game.
In March, he represented Puerto Rico in the Classic. The 26-year-old Soto is hitting .227 with six homers and 21 RBIs this year, and struck out with a runner on second to end Thursday's loss.
Soto's result will be treated by MLB like a first-time positive test. There is no suspension, but players can be fined and are subject to medical review.
Soto, last season's National League rookie of the year, drew a two-year ban from international competition by the International Baseball Federation.
"I am embarrassed by my lapse in judgment," he said in a statement released during Thursday's 6-5 loss to Detroit. "While I fully acknowledge my inappropriate behavior, I want to assure my fans and my family that this was an isolated incident.
"I fully understand the ramifications of my actions. I have and will accept any and all consequences."
Soto hit .285 with 23 home runs and 86 RBIs last year and started the MLB All-Star game.
In March, he represented Puerto Rico in the Classic. The 26-year-old Soto is hitting .227 with six homers and 21 RBIs this year, and struck out with a runner on second to end Thursday's loss.
Soto's result will be treated by MLB like a first-time positive test. There is no suspension, but players can be fined and are subject to medical review.