TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Devil Rays outfielder Alex Sanchez was suspended 10 days for violating baseball's new

drug policy, the first player publicly identified under the major leagues' tougher rules.

The suspension begins Monday when Tampa Bay opens its season

against Toronto, the commissioner's office said Sunday.

Under the new policy that took effect last month, steroids and

other performance-enchancing substances are the only drugs to draw

a 10-day suspension. Baseball officials and the players' union

agreed they would not disclose the exact substance for which a

player tests positive.

Sanchez said he was surprised by the suspension, adding that he

uses milkshakes and multivitamins to build his energy -- and blaming

the positive test on something he bought over the counter.

"I'm going to fight it, because I've never taken steroids or

anything like that," said Sanchez, who was released by Detroit in

mid-March and signed by the Devil Rays.

The union can appeal the suspension to arbitrator Shyam Das,

according to union general counsel Michael Weiner. But unlike other

suspensions, it will not be held up pending an appeal. A decision

had not yet been made, Weiner said Sunday night.

"The way the system is, you're guilty until proven innocent," Sanchez's agent, Juan Iglesias, told The Miami Herald. "If anyone's going to test positive for steroids, it's not going to be Alex Sanchez."

Sanchez, 28, who hit .322 with 19 stolen bases in 79 games for

the Tigers last season, said he was drug tested while he was with

Detroit. He was to be the Devil Rays' center fielder on opening

day.

Because the suspension is without pay, Sanchez will lose $32,787

of his $600,000 salary.

Devil Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said the team would have

no comment on the suspension.

"It's suprising," manager Lou Piniella said. "That's all I

have to say on that."

Piniella conceded, however, that it was frustrating to have to

make a lineup change on the eve of the season opener.

"Sanchez had come in here and hit the ball," Piniella said.

"Now we've just got to make adjustments, and we will."

New York Yankees manager Joe Torre, speaking before Sunday night's opener against the Boston Red Sox, believed the test was a sign baseball's new steroids policy is working.

"The fact that the testing evidently worked, that's what we want to find out," Torre said. "We want to get the fans' trust back, and that's the only way it's going to happen ... This is a good sign -- not for Sanchez -- but it gives credibility to the way they are testing."

Sanchez learned of the positive test result early Sunday and

participated in a workout at Tropicana Field later in the day. He

said he had not been told what banned substance was detected.

He insisted, however, that he has never used steroids.

"I know I did nothing incorrect. ... I take stuff I buy over

the counter. Multivitamins, protein shakes, muscle relaxants. That

kind of stuff," Sanchez said.

"I'm surprised because look at what kind of player I am. I'm a

leadoff hitter. I never hit any home runs."

Sanchez did not identify any of the products he purchased over

the counter, but described them as "something to give me energy,

put a little muscle on my body. That's it."

"Everything on the banned list is a Schedule III controlled

substance except for Human Growth Hormone," said Gene Orza, the

union's chief operating officer. "There is nothing sold over the

counter after Jan. 15, the effective date of the new [federal]

legislation, that is a banned substance."

Baseball has only urine tests, which can't detect hGH. It is

possible the Sanchez took a substance that he purchased legally

before Jan. 15.

Sanchez left Cuba on a rickety raft 11 years ago, leaving his

family behind. He spent about 16 months in a refugee camp before

finally making it to the United States. Last month, Sanchez was

reunited with his mother and brother in Miami for the first time

since 1994.

Asked if he was embarrassed to become the first player to be

disciplined under baseball's new steroids policy, Sanchez shrugged.

"There's nothing we can do about it," he said.

The suspension was announced less than three weeks after several

current and former players, including Mark McGwire, traveled to

Washington to testify at a congressional hearing on steroids in

baseball.

"The biggest penalty is being known as a steroid user. That's

the No. 1 punishment you can get," Philadelphia pitcher Randy Wolf

said. "Whether it's 10, 30 days, a year, your name being out there

and being branded is going to be the biggest punishment."

Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina said the suspension drives

home the reality of the tougher rules.

"I guess you don't really realize it until it actually happens,

and now it has," Mussina said.

Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo sounded amazed that Sanchez

tested positive.

"The little guy?" Arroyo said, referring to the 5-foot-10,

180-pound Sanchez.

Red Sox second baseman Mark Bellhorn said, "Anybody can do it.

Everybody always thinks steroids are the big, bodybuilder type.

Just because you take them doesn't mean you're going to be a huge

dude."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.