St. Petersburg, Fla. ? Tampa Bay outfielder Alex Sanchez was suspended 10 days for violating baseball’s new policy on performance-enhancing drugs, the first player publicly identified under the major leagues’ tougher rules.

The suspension begins today 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 used 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 … I never take any steroids because I don’t need them,” said Sanchez, who was released by Detroit in March and signed by the Devil Rays.

Sanchez, 28, hit .322 with 19 stolen bases in 79 games for the Tigers last season. He was to be the Devil Rays’ center fielder on Opening Day.

“It’s surprising,” manager Lou Piniella said. “That’s all I have to say on that.”

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.

Asked if he was embarrassed to become the first player to be disciplined under baseball’s new drug policy, Sanchez shrugged.

“There’s nothing we can do about it,” he said.