Marlon Byrd and his attorney, Jay Reisinger of Farrell & Reisinger, LLC, have released statements in the wake of Byrd’s 162-game suspension for PEDs.
Byrd takes full responsibility for taking a supplement that was not on the list of certified supplements available to all players. When he was told he tested positive for Ipamorelin, a peptide prohibited by the Joint Drug Agreement, he retained private counsel and an independent chemist to test his supplements and determined that one of them contained the bad substance. Though Byrd says he didn’t intentionally take Ipamorelin, he said “I alone am responsible for what I put in my body,” decided to forego an appeal and issued apologies to the Cleveland Indians, his teammates, his fans and his family.
Below are their statements in full.
Byrd:
Today, I have accepted a 1 year suspension by Major League Baseball.
Recently, I was notified that I had tested positive for Ipamorelin, a peptide prohibited by the JDA. In 2012, I tested positive for the medication Tamoxifen, which I was using on the advice of a physician for a medical condition resulting from surgery, and I accepted my suspension without challenge. Since that time, I have paid close attention to the substances that are banned by the Joint Drug Agreement, as I had no intention of taking any banned substances. I relied upon a medical professional for assistance and advice with respect to the supplements that I was taking.
However, certain supplements I was taking were not on the NSF Certified for Sport list, and therefore, I assumed certain risks in taking them. When I learned that I had tested positive for Ipamorelin, I retained the services of private counsel and an independent chemist to determine the origin of the Ipamorelin test result because I never knowingly ingested Ipamorelin. After an extensive investigation by my lawyers and an independent chemist, it was concluded that the most likely source of Ipamorelin was a tainted supplement.
I alone am responsible for what I put in my body, and therefore, I have decided for forgo my right to an appeal in this matter and accept the suspension. I apologize for any harm this has caused the Cleveland Indians, Indians’ fans, my teammates, and most importantly, my family.
Reisinger:
My partner Tina Miller, a former federal prosecutor, and I, along with the assistance of one of the most respected biochemists in the country, explored every avenue in this matter. Our conclusion is that Marlon’s positive test was the result of a tainted supplement. Marlon is devastated, but understands that he is responsible for the supplements he takes, and any time a player takes a supplement that is not on the NSF list, they run a risk. As a result, Marlon will not pursue an appeal in this matter.
