Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Tony Clark told reporters Sunday that the union did not fail to support former Mets reliever Jenrry Mejia before his suspension.
On Feb. 12, Mejia tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs for a third time, resulting in a lifetime ban from Major League Baseball.
But the 26-year-old right-hander told the New York Times Thursday that the union did not defend him, telling him he could not appeal.
“The association should have done more,” Mejia told the Times, adding that the union “should have been there to defend me — because that’s what they’re there for. They should have found something to appeal for.”
Clark said Mejia did not voice those concerns during the process.
"There are opportunities to communicate throughout," Clark told reporters, via MLB.com. "Those concerns weren't anything we were aware of during the course of this process.
"Anytime there's a concern from a player about a situation related to the support that he feels he got or he didn't get, it is concerning. But we are confident that we take every case seriously, and provide the support from start to finish for players. Being a player, you can trust that that is the case."
Mejia also told the Times, “I felt there was a conspiracy against me,” by MLB officials. A league spokesperson told the paper, "No one at MLB or representing MLB has met with Mejia regarding any of these drug violations."
Despite the “lifetime suspension” terminology, Mejia can apply for reinstatement to baseball in 2017, although he would be unable to play again until 2018. He remains under contract with the Mets in case he is granted reinstatement.