Mets pitcher Mejia banned 162 games for doping

New York: Major League Baseball suspended New York Mets pitcher Jenrry Mejia for 162 games on Tuesday after the Dominican failed a second drug test this season.

Mejia, 25, returned on July 12 from an 80-game suspension that began in April for using a performance-enhancing drug. The latest suspension reportedly involved a positive test for the anabolic steroids stanozolol and boldenone.

The ban matched the longest for performance-enhancing substances in major league history — equalling that served by Alex Rodriguez last season. Mejia had pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings of relief this season in a setup role, allowing four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.