Howe, Suspended After Drug Test, Wins Reinstatement With San Jose

Former Dodger reliever Steve Howe, saying he is cleared of implications that he was again using cocaine, won reinstatement Tuesday with the San Jose Bees and said he expects to be back in the big leagues soon.

Howe, who will take the mound Thursday night against Fresno in a California League game, was suspended on May 15 by John Johnson, president of the National Assn. of Professional Baseball Leagues, because of a disputed drug test.

Johnson released a statement Tuesday from his St. Petersburg, Fla., office that he took Howe off the ineligible list and placed him on the Bees’ active roster.

The National Assn. governs minor league baseball, but Johnson said his decisions to suspend and then reinstate Howe were supported by baseball Commissioner Peter Ueberroth.

“Since his suspension last May, Howe has undergone additional drug rehabilitation therapy and shown a positive and constructive attitude in addressing the concerns which give rise to my action,” Johnson said. “His progress will continue to be monitored, and I am hopeful that he will continue his professional career without further interruption.”

He added that Ueberroth’s office was pleased about the “thorough professional re-evaluation of Howe’s drug rehabilitation program and that Howe has renewed his commitment to adhere to that program.”

Howe, who lost jobs with the Dodgers and Minnesota Twins because of drug use, declined to go into the specifics of the suspension or the reasons why he was reinstated. But he expressed bitterness that allegations of drug abuse were again brought against him.

“Wouldn’t you feel bummed out if you felt that you didn’t do anything wrong and you were fired from your job?” said Howe, 28.

“I’m reinstated. That clears me. That means that I didn’t do anything wrong. So all the other questions are irrelevant. I’m not going to open up a can of worms. I’m tired of the controversy and basically I’m tired of being thrown in the fishbowl.”