CLEARWATER, Fla. — When J.C. Romero returns to the mound after serving a 50-game suspension, the Philadelphia Phillies reliever surely will hear some boos, steroid chants and other derisive insults.

The 32-year-old lefty is ready, but wants it known he does not consider himself a cheater.

"I didn't do nothing wrong," Romero said today when pitchers and catchers reported to camp for the World Series champions.

"It's ridiculous. I don't think I should be suspended 50 games. It doesn't make any sense to me. They have some rules they have to follow, and it's very unfortunate that I have to be the one paying the price. In my mind, I think it's insane. I think it's unfair. I'm being, they say, negligent, but then I'm being accused as somebody who takes steroids. That doesn't fly too well. But it is what it is."

Romero was suspended last month for testing positive for a banned substance after taking an over-the-counter supplement. He didn't use an illegal drug, but his name will forever be linked with players who took steroids.

"My understanding, to juice, is like perhaps you go, let's say to an alley, and stick a needle in your rear end," Romero said. "That wasn't the case. I didn't think that was fair for me to be suspended that way. The truth will set me free in the end."

Romero, a key member of a strong bullpen that helped the Phillies win their first championship since 1980, said he walked into a national chain vitamin store and purchased a supplement he thought was safe.

Turns out that product — 6-OXO — contained androstenedione, a substance that Mark McGwire used in the 1990s and now is banned by Major League Baseball.

Romero is a fitness freak who works out in the offseason and modifies his routine during the season. He said he purchased 6-OXO last summer because he ran out of the supplement he'd used for a couple years.

"The supplement I was taking was kind of expensive," he said. "I said I feel good, so let me go to GNC and take something for the second half of the season and I should be OK. So now $52 cost me $1.3 million."

Romero tested positive for androstenedione after random drug tests last August and September. He refused to accept an immediate suspension because he didn't want to miss the Phillies' postseason run or make it seem he was admitting guilt.

A two-day arbitration hearing was held before the first two games of the World Series in Tampa. Romero had to plead his case in the morning and then show up ready to pitch in the most important games of his life. He ended up winning two games against Tampa Bay in the Series, including the clincher.

Romero later learned that he lost his appeal. If the Phillies have no postponements during the first two months of the season, Romero would be eligible to return June 1 and the suspension would cost him $1,245,902 of his $4 million salary. He's more concerned about his reputation than losing the money.

"I didn't cheat the game of baseball," Romero said. "I did, according to my understanding, everything by the book. It's unfortunate that the arbitrator didn't see it that way and I have to pay the consequences of perhaps maybe a wrong ruling."

Players are allowed to use supplements that had been approved under a certification program the sport began in 2006. If they have a question about any substance, they can call a hotline to check.

Romero was told to get a second opinion after consulting with Phillies strength and conditioning coordinator Dong Lien. He didn't call the hotline.

"I didn't know anything about an 800 number," Romero said. "And I didn't have any reason to believe I was doing anything wrong because I was very careful from the get-go. The system was in place. I was very careful about it. I was trying to do things the right way because I didn't want none of this to happen."

Romero's situation is an example for other players. Now they'll be sure to get supplements cleared before using them.

"I think anything that's available to the public should be available to everybody," pitcher Cole Hamels said. "We're on such a tight leash and I understand completely because I want it to be as fair as possible, but when you have a situation like J.C. and a couple of the other guys have had to deal with, it's unfair."