Major League Baseball suspended Miami Marlins pitcher Paul Campbell 80 games without pay after he tested positive for a banned substance.
The 25-year-old right-hander tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (DHCMT), according to Monday’s announcement from the commissioner’s office.
The suspension is effective immediately.
The Major League Baseball Players Association released a statement from Campbell saying he “never knowingly, willingly or intentionally ingested this substance in any form.”
“Due to the fact that I do not know the origin of how this substance has entered into my system, I currently have no viable defense in support of my innocence,” Campbell said.
“… I will continue my efforts to find answers and clear my name of this matter. I in no way will let this define me and will use this unfortunate situation to learn and grow stronger as a player and person.”
Campbell made his major league debut on April 3 and is 0-2 with an 8.74 ERA in five games (one start) this season. He allowed 14 runs (11 earned) on 19 hits and six walks in 11 1/3 innings, striking out 13 batters. He also hit two batters and tossed two wild pitches.
He was drafted in the 21st round out of Clemson in 2017 by the Tampa Bay Rays. The Marlins acquired him from the Rays in the Rule 5 Draft in December 2020.
–Field Level Media