"No, really, it was a nutritional supplement..."

Mike Cameron tests positive for stimulants, banned for the first 25 games of 2008

SAN DIEGO -- Mike Cameron, the Padres' Gold Glove center fielder, was suspended for the first 25 games of next season on Wednesday after testing positive a second time for a banned stimulant.

Cameron, who plans to file for free agency, said he believes he took a tainted supplement.

"The one thing I wanted to make sure was explained is, no steroids," Cameron told AM 1090, the Padres' flagship radio station. "I never took nothing like that before in my life. That would be 50 games, and that would affect me a whole lot more."

Cameron issued a statement through his agent, saying doctors for the players' association helped him narrow down what triggered the positive test.

"After all of the analysis and testing, I can only conclude that a nutritional supplement I was taking was tainted," he said. "Unfortunately, the actual supplement is gone, and therefore cannot be tested. Without the actual supplement in hand, the rules are clear, and I must accept the suspension."

I guess this is better than "I have never used steroids, period". Seriously though, assuming one is willing to take his explanation at face value, how much would it cost for MLB to issue a certification to ensure products are free of such alleged taints?

Cameron sure will lose a lot of money over this. The one thing that is relatively plentiful in the current free agent class is centerfielders, and this may put him behind the Joneses, Hunters and Rowands, not to mention the tradeables like Coco Crisp. Maybe, if a team is willing to wait until May to unveil its new centerfielder, there is a bargain to be had here?