Continuing in what has been a rough few months for baseball, Rafael Palmeiro of the Baltimore Orioles — the team many District residents called their own prior to the arrival of the Nationals — was given a 10-day suspension today for steroid use, reports the Post. The O’s first baseman, who only two weeks ago celebrated his milestone 3,000 hits and 500+ home-runs, is the tenth player suspended so far this season for failing steroid tests mandated by Major League Baseball, and his suspension brings local relevance to a growing scandal over the use of performance enhancing drugs in professional sports.

In a statement, Palmeiro, pictured above, accepted the terms of the suspension while challenging any beliefs that he had knowingly taken steroids:

I am here to make it very clear that I have never intentionally used steroids. Never. Ever. Period. I am sure you will ask how I tested positive for a banned substance. As I look back, I don’t have a specific answer to give. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to explain to the arbitrator how the banned substance entered my body.

This line of denials has become more commonplace since Congress began scrutinizing MLB earlier this year for what is worried could become a rash of admissions by prominent players over the use of steroids. But unlike many of those other players, notably San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds, Palmeiro may stand to lose more in terms of public support and moral high-ground with the announcement of his suspension.

In hearings held before the House Government Reform Committee in mid-March and chaired by Rep. Thomas Davis III (R-Va.), Palmeiro defiantly and openly denied he had ever used steroids, as was alleged by Jose Canseco, a former Oakland Athletic. After the hearing, Palmeiro claimed, “I was just speaking from the heart, man. I just wanted to make sure that I got my point across and that I was sincere about it.” So sincere was his testimony, or, the perception of it, that his name was floated for a taskforce to tackle the problem — indicating that his may be a longer fall from grace than other players in similar predicaments. Fans have already started posting responses to the news, and many seem overwhelmingly disappointed.

Congress is currently considering legislation, known as the “Clean Sports Act of 2005,” which would strengthen testing procedures and increase penalties for steroid use by professional athletes.