By the end of his 50-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance, reliever J.C. Romero returned to Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. “I feel free,” he said before the series finale against the San Diego Padres. Romero has been on rehab in the minors and is looking forward to his season debut. Also, the Phillies are eager to get the left-hander back in their bullpen.

Romero, who earned two wins in Philadelphia’s World Series victory over Tampa Bay just last year, was suspended after testing positive for androstenedione, the same substance that Mark McGwire used in the 1990s. This substance was later on banned by baseball. “It has been a very tough road, but I’m still standing with my head up high and trying to just do my job,” he said. Romero also added that he’s mentally strong but also hopes that people don’t lump him in with steroid users.

“The human side, it’s tough to understand you being accused of wrongdoing when you know in your heart you didn’t do anything,” Romero said. “But now I have to face the consequences of perhaps being judged by other people. I just hope that the people that are my fans, that are supporting me, spread the word and let the other people know, ‘Listen, this is not just your typical guy who does steroids to cheat the game of baseball.”

Due to his 50-game suspension, Romero lost $1,289,617 of his $4 million salary. Romero on the other hand had filed lawsuit against the manufacturer of an over-the-counter supplement that led to his positive result in a conducted drug test. He sued Proviant and Ergopharm, the manufacturer of 6-OXO and 6-OXO Extreme in late April. He argued that they misrepresented their products and ingredients and should be the one to blame for his positive result and suspension. Proviant Technologies however disputed his accusations and said that Romero should be responsible for his own doings. The manufacturer also noted that each bottle of 6-OXO Extreme has a warning label of “Use of this product may be banned by some athletic or government associations (including military).”

Romero admitted that he could have done some things to prevent the positive test but he also said that the supplement bottles did not have a warning that they contained androstenedione. “It’s a learning experience. But you just hope that the other people who were involved in this situation learn as well. It’s not easy taking the blame of something when you have other people having some culpability in the matter and not being accountable for their actions. It’s tough, but hey, I’ll take it and move on,” he added.

Romero also said that supplements present a fine line. “I just would like people to understand that what seems right for everyday people to do is not right for athletes anymore. I guess going to GNC for everybody is normal. For us, it’s not normal. That’s what I want people to understand, that testing positive is not being able to do the things that everyday people do to keep themselves in shape.”

Manager Charlie Manuel said that they can definitely use Romero. “We’’ pick a spot and put him in there a couple of days probably, kind of get him going. When he falls back into his role, he and (Ryan) Madson together, they kind of stabilize the seventh and eight innings for us,” he said.

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