Mike Jacobs receives baseball’s first HGH testing suspension

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Baseball’s human growth hormone testing has snagged its first offender.

Mike Jacobs, a former major leaguer playing in the Colorado Rockies’ farm system, received a 50-game suspension from Major League Baseball on Thursday after testing positive for the banned substance. He was released by the Rockies once the team found out about the result.

In a statement, the 30-year-old infielder admitted to taking HGH and apologized to his family and teammates.

‘A few weeks ago, in an attempt to overcome knee and back problems, I made the terrible decision to take HGH,” Jacobs said in the statement. “I immediately stopped a couple of days later after being tested. Taking it was one of the worst decisions I could have ever made, one for which I take full responsibility.’

The head of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency praised baseball’s commitment to stamping out performance-enhancing drugs in the sport.

“This case demonstrates how MLB has stepped up to the plate and implemented HGH testing in the minor leagues to protect clean athletes and the integrity of competition,’ said Travis Tygart, CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

Jacobs, who has played in parts of six major league seasons with the Mets, Marlins and Royals, is a .253 career hitter with 100 home runs and 310 RBIs. He had a team-leading 23 home runs and 97 RBIs this season with the Rockies’ triple-A affiliate in Colorado Springs, Colo.

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-- Austin Knoblauch

The Associated Press contributed to this report.