Jeff PassanESPN Shut up ESPN MLB insider Author of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports”
San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. suspended for 80 games after testing positive for Clostebol, a performance-enhancing substance that violates Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Shut up
ESPN MLB insider Author of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports”
Tatis’ suspension, announced by MLB on Friday, is effective immediately, meaning the All-Star shortstop cannot play in the majors this year. In a statement, Tatis said he is not appealing the ban as it was his “mistake” that led to the positive test. “It turns out that I accidentally took a medication to treat ringworm that contained Clostebol,” Tatis said. “I should have used the resources at my disposal to ensure that there were no banned substances in what I took. I did not do it. “I want to apologize to Peter [Seidler]AJ [Preller], the entire Padres organization, my teammates, Major League Baseball and fans everywhere for my mistake. I have no excuse for my mistake 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 come back negative until this test. “I am completely devastated. There is nowhere else in the world I would rather be on the pitch competing with my teammates. After initially appealing the suspension, I realized that 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 getting back on the field with my teammates in 2023.” Tatis has been on a minor league rehab mission after missing the first four months of the season with a broken left wrist and will now be on the restricted list for the Padres’ final 48 regular season games. Any postseason games the Padres play this season will count toward Tatis’ 80-game total. The remainder of the suspension will be served early in the 2023 season. Freddy Galvis and Dee Gordon are among the major leaguers previously banned for using Clostebol, an anabolic steroid that can be used for ophthalmic and dermatological use. It has also been banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency and cross-country skiing gold medalist Therese Johaug was suspended in 2016 after testing positive for it. Tatis, 23, is one of the biggest stars in MLB, the centerpiece of multiple marketing campaigns and in the second season of a 14-year, $340 million contract. After emerging as a star in his breakout season as a 20-year-old, Tatis, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound shortstop whose power, speed and penchant for the spectacular won him legions of fans, finished fourth in National League MVP voting. sophomore campaign. Last year, he was even better, setting the record, finishing third in the MVP voting and cementing himself as one of the best players in the game. The Padres were down, but had high hopes for 2022 after hiring Bob Melvin as their new manager. During the lockout that delayed spring training, Tatis broke his wrist in a motorcycle accident that required surgery. San Diego has vowed to rebuild slowly and is brimming with anticipation for a lineup with Tatis leading off, new acquisition Juan Soto hitting second and third baseman Manny Machado third. The penalty was announced shortly before the Padres played in Washington. San Diego started the day 63-51 and held the final of three NL wild-card spots. “It is with surprise and great disappointment that we learned today that Fernando Tatis 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. a statement. “We fully support the program and hope that Fernando will learn from this experience.” The suspension will cost Tatis about $2.9 million. Tatis will forfeit $1,510,989 of his $5 million salary this year, covering the final 55 days and 48 games of the season. He will forfeit about $1.39 million of his $7 million salary for the first 32 games of next season, with the exact number determined by how many days he misses. In 273 career games, Tatis is hitting .292/.369/.569 with 81 home runs, 192 RBI and 52 stolen bases. The Associated Press contributed to this story.
