World Series winner gets long ban

Romero will sit out a large part of the 2009 season

Philadelphia pitcher JC Romero has been suspended for 50 games after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance.

Romero's ban will be effective from the start of the 2009 regular season, Major League Baseball said in a statement.

The reliever was part of the Phillies team which clinched the club's first World Series victory since 1980.

Romero posted two wins in the Fall Classic against Tampa Bay as Philadelphia clinched the series 4-1.

The left-hander claimed he used a supplement which had previously been approved by MLB and the Players' Association.

"I still cannot see where I did something wrong," Romero told ESPN.com.

"There is nothing that should take away from the (World Series) rings of my team-mates. I didn't cheat. I tried to follow the rules."

A report on MLB.com said Romero had twice tested positive for the unspecified supplement, on 26 August before a game against the New York Mets and on 18 September before a game against the Florida Marlins.