JC Romero, the pitching ace of World Series Champions the Philadelphia Phillies speaks out on the result of his woes. He has thrown a curve ball, claiming that wrong advice, despite his best efforts, made him test positive for a banned substance under Major League Baseball’s stringent drug policies. He was set to sit out for suspension for a total of 50 games the coming season.

Romero claims that he was not found guilty of using a performance improving substance. The facts proven indicate that he bought an over the counter supplement in a retail store in the city. Hr claims he had sought permission from the team’s trainer and his personal nutritionist before using the supplement regularly.

The supplement, named 6-OXO-Extreme was claimed to be regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. At testing, the supplement contained an aromatase inhibitor which limits the conversion of androgenic steroidal compounds to estrogen. At further investigation, the supplement was listed as a potential positive in current drug testing techniques. Rather than prove intentional use, this created more questions which led the arbiter to decide that Romero was negligent in the use of the supplement.

In his testimony, Romero stated he searched the store in Cherry Hill, Pa last July. He was out to purchase his regular supplements for the start of his weight-training regimen. He saw the new product 6 OXO Extreme beside his usual medication that required him to ingest eight pills a day. He purchased it knowing full well that the MLB Player’s Association Drug guidelines issued last November stating that supplements bought over the counter in retail stores are well within the policies of the program. But the same letter indicated three supplements resulting in positive drug tests and contained therein was 6 OXO Extreme.

Romero, upon purchase, showed the supplement to Phillies strength coach Doug Lien who advised the pitching star to seek out a second opinion before use. Romero then received an a-ok from his personal nutritionist. After examination of the label, the product was cleared of any substance listed in the banned list provided by MLB. Armed with that, he started using the supplement from there on.

Lien, for his part, sent a sample of the supplement for testing with MLB. The results showed that the supplement contained chemicals that may result in a positive finding. The report was forwarded to the commissioner’s office but no one made this finding public that an over the counter supplement be considered a banned performance-enhancing product. And after a routine test last August 26 and a random drug test last September 29, that Romero was informed that he had tested positive. A deal was offered for the pitching star but he opted for arbitration.

In his statement, he said he was standing up for his innocence. He believed that acceptance of the deal meant he was acknowledging wrongdoing. Secondly, advise provided him by player’s association lawyers said he had a chance to win at arbitration. Also, acceptance would have meant he would be unable to play in the Fall classic which he won the title-clinching game for the Phillies.

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