Mets Anti-Steroid Plans, By: Ronald Blum

May 17, 2007

NEW YORK  --  The Mets plan to re-examine their educational program about the dangers of steroids following their third drug-related suspension in 6 1/2 months.

Pitcher Lino Urdaneta was suspended for 50 games Wednesday, eight days after pitcher Jorge Reyes was suspended for 100 games. Both players were penalized for testing positive for performance-enhancing substances under baseball's minor league program. Reyes drew a longer ban because it was his second offense.

Reliever Guillermo Mota is serving a 50-game suspension after testing positive Nov. 1 under the major league program. In 2006, Reyes tested positive under the minor league program along with pitchers Waner Mateo and Timothy Haines, and pitcher Yusaku Iriki tested positive under the major league program.

"We do educational stuff already, and we do a bunch of it. We will be looking into it," chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon said Thursday. "I've spoken to the doctors, and I've spoken to the nutritionist."

Wilpon intends to meet with general manager Omar Minaya and his staff to review the team's anti-drug efforts.

"Not to stop the positive tests but to educate the kids so they know what they're doing to their bodies and they know that besides being illegal and against the rules, that it's not good for them," Wilpon said. "They don't need to do it."