Orioles' Chris Davis Suspended 25 Games For Postive Amphetamine Test
BOSTON (CBS) -- Chris Davis' 53-home run season in 2013 raised many eyebrows in the baseball world, and on Friday, those suspicions were proven to be true.
Davis was suspended for 25 games for testing positive for amphetamines, MLB announced on Friday.
The 28-year-old corner infielder batted .286 with 53 home runs, 42 doubles and a 1.004 OPS last season. His numbers have dropped significantly this year, as he's hitting .196 with 26 home runs, 16 doubles and a .704 OPS.
The 53 homers were 20 more than his previous career high of 33, which was his home-run total in 2012.
Last year, when Davis had hit 37 homers before the All-Star break, he tackled rumors and accusations of performance-enhancing drug use head-on.
"I have never taken them. I have no reason to. I've always been a power hitter," Davis said last July, according to The Baltimore Sun. "With me, I think the biggest thing was the consistency of the contact. When I was making contact, I was always hitting for power. I'm a guy that likes to work out a lot. I'm a guy that used to eat whatever I wanted to, but I started getting into my mid-20s, I've been seeing that change. So I've been taking better care of my body. I have a pretty strict diet. But I've never taken PEDs. I haven't felt the need to.
"I have never taken PEDs or steroids or whatever you want to call it. That's the way it is," Davis added. "And I think it is unfair to accuse a guy that there's nothing that leads to me doing it but speculation. But, at the same time, you are entitled to your own opinion."
Davis also told ESPN last summer, "It's extremely frustrating that people would just assume I was on something because I'm having success."
Orioles manager Buck Showalter defended Davis' honor in that same ESPN article.
"I understand why people would wonder. I would too," Showalter said. "But once you get to know Chris, once you meet his family and see his work ethic, you realize that this is a special kid."
The Orioles currently have a 10-game lead in the American League East with just 17 games remaining in the regular season. The suspension includes postseason games.
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