Eight-year veteran offensive lineman Frank Garcia, in his first training camp with the Arizona Cardinals, has been suspended for the first four games of the regular season after testing positive for the banned substance ephedra.

Garcia, 31, will be permitted to continue working with the Cardinals in camp and can even participate in the preseason games. The suspension, which came after Garcia was unsuccessful with his appeal, will begin the week before the regular-season opener, Sept. 7 at Detroit. Barring any setbacks, he can return for the fifth game of the season, Oct. 5 at Dallas.

During the suspension, Garcia will not be permitted to work out at the Cardinals complex or to have any contact with franchise officials.

Garcia said Wednesday night that he took an herbal allergy medication used by his wife in April and was tested by the team that day. The remedy contained ephedra, Garcia said.

"The way I look at is that I am an innocent victim of a well-intentioned policy," Garcia said.

"The league is out to look out for the guys. But in my mind, I really don't feel like I've done anything to deserve a four-game suspension. Unfortunately, they don't see it that way. It's zero tolerance, and that's what we have to live with."

He will forfeit $154,117 in base salary, the prorated amount of the $655,000 Garcia was scheduled to earn in 2003. Garcia signed a two-year contract with the Cardinals this spring as an unrestricted free agent.

"I know the policy is there in place for our safety," Garcia said. "I abided by our policy by going to our trainer and being responsible. ... In my mind, when I was taking it, I was taking it to clear me up, to give me relief. That's it. It wasn't for enhancement or anything else. Just for relief."

The former University of Washington standout had been working as a backup center, and he was playing behind Pete Kendall, who moved to the hub position from guard in camp.

"Frank's going to continue to compete for a spot on this football team," Cardinals coach Dave McGinnis said. "He is still right in the mix with what's going on in this training camp."

In previous stints with Carolina (1995-2000) and St. Louis (2001-02), Garcia appeared in 118 games and started 89 of them. All but five of those starts came during his tenure with the Panthers.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.