Marlon Byrd suspended 162 games after testing positive for PED

Former Mets outfielder Marlon Byrd received a 162-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.

In his official statement, per FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal's Facebook page, the 38-year-old outfielder said he will not appeal MLB's punishment:

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 to 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.

In 2012, Byrd served a 50-game suspension after testing positive for Tamoxifen. The following season, he hit .285/.330/.518 with 21 home runs for the Mets, who traded him and catcher John Buck to the Pittsburgh Pirates in late August. Along with reliever Vic Black, the Mets received second baseman Dilson Herrera, who is now 22 years old and has hit .280/.322/.489 so far this season in Triple-A.

Byrd's 24 home runs in 2013 then represented a career high, but he maintained his late power surge by belting 24 for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2014 and 23 more for the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants last year. He was hitting .270/.326/.452 for the Cleveland Indians before the suspension.

Byrd, currently signed to a one-year contract, will turn 39 before he's eligible to return. With a second suspension to his name, he'll have a difficult time finding work as a free agent this winter. A third positive test would net a lifetime ban, the first of which was given to Mets reliever Jenrry Mejia in February.