Matt Harvey has been suspended for 60 games for distributing a drug of abuse—oxycodone, a narcotic pain reliever. During the trial of the former athletic trainer for the LA Angels who was implicated in the death of Tyler Skaggs, Harvey admitted to intermittent use of cocaine and oxycodone and also to occasionally giving some of the oxycodone to Skaggs. Skaggs autopsy found both Fentanyl (another opiate pain killer) and oxycodone in his system. Other players (notably CJ Cron) also admitted to opiate use, but Harvey is the only one to admit giving it to other people. Harvey is currently pitching on a minor league contract with the Orioles. Sitting out minor league games does count toward his suspension.
Everything about the Tyler Skaggs case is awful…as is every tragic case connected to opiate abuse. One can only hope the survivors get help and stay clean rather than become grim statistics themselves.
Fan Interference 