San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. has been suspended for 80 games after testing positive for Clostebol, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
Tatis’ suspension, announced Friday by MLB, is effective immediately, meaning the All-Star shortstop will not be able to play in the majors this year. In a statement, Tatis said he will not appeal the ban because it was his “mistake” that led to the positive test.
“It turned out that I accidentally took a drug to treat ringworm that contained Clostebol,” Tatis said. “I should have used the means at my disposal to make sure there were no banned substances in it. I didn’t.
“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 mistake and I would never do anything to cheat this game or not I have undergone numerous drug tests throughout my professional career, including on March 29, 2022, all of which had negative results until this test.
“I’m absolutely devastated. I would rather be anywhere in the world than competing on the pitch with my team-mates. After initially appealing the suspension, I realized that my mistake was the cause of this result, and for that reason I have decided to sit out my suspension immediately. I look forward to seeing my teammates back on the field in 2023.”
Tatis was on a minor league rehab assignment after missing the first four months of the season due to a broken left wrist and will now be on the restricted list for the final 48 games of the Padres regular season. All post-season games the Padres play this season will count towards Tatis’s total of 80 games. The remainder of the suspension will be evicted at the beginning of the 2023 season.
Freddy Galvis and Dee Gordon are among the big players who have been 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 Olympic gold medal-winning cross-country skier Therese Johaug was banned in 2016 after testing positive for it.
Tatis, 23, is one of the biggest stars in MLB, the center of multiple marketing campaigns and on the second season of a $340 million 14-year contract.
After emerging as a star in his rookie season at age 20, Tatis, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound shortstop whose strength, speed and penchant for the spectacular earned him legions of fans, finished fourth in the National League MVP vote in his sophomore campaign. Last year he was even better, signing the record deal, finishing third in the MVP voting and making himself one of the best players in the game.
The Padres collapsed 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 vowed to rehabilitate slowly and it was teeming with anticipation of a lineup with Tatis in the lead, new signing Juan Soto hitting second and third baseman Manny Machado in third.
The penalty was announced shortly before the Padres played in Washington. San Diego started the day at 63-51 and held the final of the three NL wildcard spots.
“We were surprised and extremely disappointed to learn 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 was subsequently given an 80-game suspension without payment,” the Padres said. in a statement. a statement. “We fully support the program and hope Fernando will learn from this experience.”
The suspension will cost Tatis approximately $2.9 million. Tatis will lose $1,510,989 of his $5 million salary this year, for the last 55 days and 48 games of the season. He will lose approximately $1.39 million of his $7 million salary for the first 32 games of next season, the exact number being determined by the number of days he misses.
In 273 games in his career, Tatis hits .292/.369/.569 with 81 homeruns, 192 RBI’s and 52 stolen bases.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
