Youmans Suspended for Not Complying With Drug-Test Program

Floyd Youmans, the troubled pitcher of the Montreal Expos who underwent alcohol rehabilitation last fall, was suspended indefinitely by the commissioner’s office Saturday “for failing to comply with his drug-testing program.”

Although Commissioner Peter Ueberroth confirmed that Youmans has been undergoing “periodic drug testing,” his office would not say how Youmans violated the program.

On March 30, Ueberroth suspended Eddie Milner of the Cincinnati Reds after he admitted using cocaine. Milner, who underwent rehabilitation last season, returned to action on June 19.

Youmans, 24, a right-hander, was 3-6 with a 3.21 earned-run average at the time of the suspension. Club spokesman Rich Griffin said Expo officials met with Youmans after the suspension was announced and “it hasn’t been decided yet what the next step for Floyd is.” Griffin said the Expos will help Youmans with “anything that might come up in terms of medical assistance.”

In February, Youmans said in an interview that his drinking problem was diagnosed as hereditary and that it began when he was in high school in Tampa, Fla., where he was a schoolboy friend of New York Mets’ pitcher Dwight Gooden. Gooden underwent cocaine rehabilitation in the spring of1987.

He said that during rehabilitation, he learned he would have to change his life style. “That’s why things have to be dull for me, so I won’t drink,” Youmans said. “I have to stay away from the things and places that will give me the temptations.”