US players Jon Conway and Jeff Parke of New York Red Bulls were each suspended for 10 games and fined 10 percent of their Major League Soccer salary Thursday after positive doping tests.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber imposed the sanctions after goalkeeper Conway and defender Parke tested positive for performance-enhancing substances androstatriendione (ATD) and metabolites of boldenone.
The players bought a nutritional supplement from a nationwide vitamin store chain that contained the banned substances, an MLS statement said.
"MLS has one of the strictest drug policies in professional sports and holds its athletes both responsible and accountable for what they put into their bodies," Garber said.
"This is an important statement as to the high standards to which we hold our players."
The suspensions would include regular-season and playoff games. The Red Bulls are fighting DC United, Toronto and Kansas City for the final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
New York will host conference winner Columbus on Saturday and finish the season at Chicago on Thursday.
Conway has been keeping goal all season as the Red Bulls are 9-10 with nine drawn. Parke has made 23 starts for New York this season.
Copyright 2008 AFP American Edition
