New York -free agent pitcher Dan Serafini was suspended for 50 games by major league Baseball on Tuesday after testing positive for a banned substance.
Serafini,who appeared in three games for the national league champions colored Rockies last season.spent the previous 3 1/2 season pitching in Japan for the Chiba Lotte Marines and the orix Buffaloes.He said it was prescribed medicine that produced the positive test.
"I want to make it known that did not use any banned substances in order to gain competitive advantage,"Serafini told MLB.com.
"However,while playing baseball in Japan,I suffered two sing to accelerate the healing process of these injuries,I took substances that were prescribed for me by a doctor in Japan."
Serafini broke into the major leagues in 1996 with Minnesota and has had stints with the Chicago cubs,Pittsburgh pirates,San Diego Padre5 and Cincinnati Reds.REUTERS