San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatís Jr. has been suspended for 80 games after violating the MLB’s performance-enhancing drug policy. The league announced the news Friday, as Tatís continues to recover from a wrist injury that has left him sidelined for much of the 2022 season.
“We were surprised and extremely disappointed to learn today that Fernando Tatís Jr. tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Prevention and Treatment Program and subsequently received an 80-game suspension without pay,” the Padres said in a statement to ESPN. “We fully support the Program and are hopeful that Fernando will learn from this experience.”
According to the outlet, Tatís had tested positive for Clostebol, a synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid that mimics natural testosterone.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports the suspension will be unpaid and is expected to roll over into next year. The Padres currently have 48 games left on the regular-season schedule, meaning Tatís could miss the first 32 games of the 2023 season if San Diego fails to make the playoffs.
The 23-year-old inked a historic 14-year, $340 million contract with Padres in 2021, but has yet to play a single inning this season due to the aforementioned injury sustained in a motorcycle accident.
Tatís addressed the suspension in the following statement provided to CBS News:
I have been informed by Major League Baseball that a test sample I submitted returned a positive result for Clostebol. I should have used the resources available to me in order to ensure that no banned substances were in what I took. I failed to do so.
I want to apologize to Peter, AJ, the entire Padres organization, my teammates, Major League Baseball, and fans everywhere for my mistake. I have no excuse for my error, and I would never do anything to cheat or disrespect this game I love.
I have taken countless drug tests throughout my professional career, including March 29, 2022, all of which have returned negative results until this test.
I am completely devastated. There is nowhere else in the world I would rather be than on the field competing with my teammates. After initially appealing the suspension, I have realized my mistake was the cause of this result, and for that reason I have decided to start serving my suspension immediately. I look forward to re-joining my teammates on the field in 2023.
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