Rafael Palmeiro's tumultuous season came to an end Friday when the Baltimore Orioles, tired of the distraction stemming from his suspension for steroids, told him he was no longer welcome on the team. The decision came on the same day Palmeiro was scheduled to return from spending time at home rehabilitating his right knee and left ankle. But the Orioles figured it was best they cut their ties for now. "He wanted to come back and play, but I think in this instance we had to do what we felt was best for the rest of the players out there," Orioles executive vice president Jim Beattie said. The abrupt end to Palmeiro's season came one day after it was learned that he cited a vitamin he received from teammate Miguel Tejada as possibly causing the positive steroid test. "I know I'm clean. I'm not guilty," Tejada said before the Orioles played the Red Sox. "I use the same thing, and I've been checked for steroids three times."