4/20 13:49: ESPN.com adds that drugs in question were a prescription from the Dominican Republic as part of a treatment to start a family with his wife. The drug used was banned by Major League Baseball.

“As a result, I tested positive when I reported to spring training,” he said. “Although I understand that I must accept responsibility for this mistake and have chosen not to challenge my suspension, I want to assure everyone that this was an isolated incident involving my genuine effort to treat a common medical issue.”

Volquez can serve the suspension while on the disabled list, so it will not impact the Reds’ since he was not going to pitch for the club until the end of the 2010 season at best.

4/20 12:22: Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus reported on Monday, that a suspension has been made by Major League Baseball due to the use of PEDs (performance enhancing drugs). At the time Carroll said that the suspension “has already been through (the) appeals process,” with the violation most likely occurring during Spring Training.

Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated, reported today that Reds pitcher Edinson Volquez, was suspended 50 games for the use of PEDs. In his Sports Illustrated article, Heyman says that the suspension will take effect on April 21. Volquez is currently recovering from Tommy John surgery.

It’s possible that the drugs used could be medication related due to Volquez’s Tommy John surgery. Volquez had the surgery in August of 2009 and was not expected back until the end of this season at the earliest.

Volquez, 26, has a career 24-19 record with a 4.37 ERA with the Rangers and Reds. He was an NL All-Star in 2008.  His 2010 salary is $445,000, so on a prorated basis, the pitcher will lose about $137,346 for being suspended 50 games.