M's pitcher Franklin suspended for violating steroids policy
Aug. 2, 2005
CBS SportsLine.com wire reports
NEW YORK -- Seattle Mariners pitcher Ryan Franklin was suspended 10 days for violating his sport's steroids policy, the eighth major league player caught under tougher drug rules enacted this year.
The announcement Tuesday came one day after Orioles slugger Rafael Palmeiro was suspended after testing positive for steroids.
Franklin, a 32-year-old right-hander, is 6-11 this season with a 4.61 ERA in 22 games, including 20 starts. He was expected to talk with reporters before the Mariners played the Tigers at Comerica Park on Tuesday night.
"We are very disappointed to learn this news," Mariners spokesman Tim Hevly said. "But at the direction of Major League Baseball, and, following its rules, we are not able to comment further."
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Franklin pitched for the gold-medal winning U.S. team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, going 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA in four appearances.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service