NEW YORK (AP) -Colorado Rockies minor league catcher Humberto Cota was suspended for 50 games Wednesday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.

Cota was penalized under the major league drug program, even though he has not been on a major league roster since last June 15, when he was released by the Pittsburgh Pirates. The reason he was covered by the major league plan rather than the minor league program wasn't announced.

``I want to make it clear that I did not use any banned substances in order to improve my performance,'' Cota said in a statement released by the players' association. ``In July 2007, I had season-ending surgery performed on my left shoulder. During this past winter, while I was a free agent, my shoulder was slow to heal. I took substances that were prescribed for me by a doctor in Mexico.

``I believed I was taking anti-inflammatory medication that would help my shoulder heal. What I did not know at the time was that these substances would cause me to test positive under MLB's drug policy. I have learned that I should only rely on medical care provided by U.S.-based doctors. I apologize to my family, my teammates, the fans of Major League Baseball and the Rockies organization. I know I will be more careful in the future.''

The 29-year-old Cota played parts of the last seven seasons with Pittsburgh, hitting .233 with 12 home runs and 61 RBIs in 196 career games. He signed a minor league contract with Washington last November, was let go in mid-March and signed a minor league deal with the Rockies.

Cota is hitting .333 with eight RBIs in 15 games for Triple-A Colorado Springs this year. He became the second player penalized this year under the major league plan. San Francisco Giants catcher Eliezer Alfonzo was suspended for 50 games on April 30.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.