DSL Yankees' Cedeno suspended 72 games

NEW YORK -- Yankees Minor League right-hander Moises Cedeno was suspended for 72 games on Thursday after testing positive for a banned substance.

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball said Cedeno received a 72-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Clenbuterol, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The suspension will be effective at the start of the Dominican Summer League season in June.

Cedeno, 19, is entering his fourth season in the Minors with New York. The 6-foot right-handed starter is 8-7 with a 4.24 ERA and 114 strikeouts in 108 1/3 innings over three seasons with the Yankees' Rookie-level Dominican Summer League affiliates. Last summer, the Panama native finished 4-4 with a 3.23 ERA in 13 strats after winning four games in 2013.

Clenbuterol, a fat burner sometimes used by bodybuilders, has been linked to several athletes over the years, most notably former Major Leaguer Guillermo Mota, who was suspended for 50 games in 2006 and 100 more in 2012, both times for using the drug. Cardinals Minor League shortstop Lainer Bueno received a 50-game suspension in 2011 after testing positive for the substance, and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Carter Ashton also was disciplined for using the drug in 2014.

Cedeno is the 42nd player suspended this year for violating the Minor League drug program and the second straight pitcher banned from the DSL Yankees -- fellow righty Brayan Alcantara was the last player suspended, on March 11, when he tested positive for Stanozolol.