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Free agent outfielder Marlon Byrd has been suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, the league has announced. Byrd tested positive for Tamoxifen, which is a drug known for cancer prevention, reports Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com.
BREAKING: Free agent OF Marlon Byrd suspended 50 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.
— MLB (@MLB) June 25, 2012
Byrd has remained unsigned since he was released by the Boston Red Sox on June 12. The Red Sox acquired Byrd from the Chicago Cubs less than two months prior to his release in exchange for Michael Bowden and Hunter Cervenka.
T.J. Quinn of ESPN reports that steroid users take Tamoxifen, an estrogen blocker, to mitigate steroid side-effects. Quinn summed his initial tweet up by saying that steroid users take Tamoxifen so they don’t grow breasts, as the drug is prescribed for women with cancer.
Basically, 'roid users take it so they don't grow breasts. Usually rx'd for women with cancer.
— T.J. Quinn (@TJQuinnESPN) June 25, 2012
Byrd hit at a clip of .210/.243/.245 over his 143 at-bats with the Cubs and Red Sox this season. Over his 11-year career, the 34-year-old owns a career line of .278/.336/.413.