New York, April 13 : American baseball player Jenrry Mejia of New York Mets has been suspended for 80 games without pay after testing positive for the banned substance stanozolol.

The 25-year-old will not be able to play again until July and would be ineligible for the Major League play-offs if his team qualifies.

"I know the rules are the rules and I will accept my punishment," Mejia was quoted as saying by bbc.com on Monday.

"But I can honestly say I have no idea how a banned substance ended up in my system."

Stanozolol is considered a banned substance by Major League Baseball's drug policy, and an 80-game suspension is the penalty for a first-time positive test.