Dodgers Reliever Admits Cocaine Use Kept Him From Playing Last Season

(NewsCore) - Dodgers reliever Ronald Belisario's year-long absence from baseball last season was due to a positive test for cocaine, the right-hander told the Los Angeles Times Wednesday.

Belisario, 29, was not allowed to leave his native Venezuela after testing positive for the drug last year, the paper reported.

Belisario, who said he was unsure when the test was administered, told the Times he only used cocaine once.

"I don't have a problem with any drugs," said Belisario, who will serve a 25-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's drug policy.

Belisario also missed about a month of the 2010 season while receiving treatment at a substance-abuse program. He told the paper Wednesday he was not treated for cocaine use at the time, but declined to go into detail.

"That's in the past," he said. "I don't want to talk about it."

Belisario posted a 2.04 ERA in 70.2 innings pitched during his rookie season in 2009. His numbers dropped significantly in 2010, with a 5.04 ERA in just 55.1 innings pitched.

Read more: The Los Angeles Times