The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced that right-handed pitchers Juancito De La Cruz and Antonio Encarnacion have each been suspended for 50 games without pay after testing positive for metabolites of Stanozolol. The suspensions are effective immediately.
De La Cruz has appeared in 10 games for the Cubs' Dominucan affiliate this season, going 1-1 with a 6.30 ERA through July 16.
Encarnacion has spent three seasons with the Cubs' DSL affiliate but has yet to pitch in 2012.
Stanozolol is a synthetic anabolic steroid derived from testosterone that is sometimes prescribed by veterinarians to encourage muscle growth, red blood cell production, bone density and to stimulate the appetite of weakened animals. It's also been linked to body builders and several former and current baseball players.
Major League Baseball has suspended 55 players this year for violations of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
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