San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., issued a statement on Friday, following the news that he has been suspended for 80 games for violating Major League Baseball's performance enhancing drug policy.
The MLB confirmed that Tatis Jr. tested positive for the drug Clostebol, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
In February of 2021, the Padres signed Tatís to a 14-year, $340 million contract extension. Tatis has been in rehab for a wrist fracture that occurred from an off-season motorcyle accident, and was expected to return to active play within the next few weeks. The team issued to the following statement following the MLB's announcement:
"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 subsequently received an 80-game suspension without pay. We fully support the Program and are hopeful that Fernando will learn from this experience.”
Tatis issued a statement late Friday:
“I have been informed by Major League Baseball that a test sample I submitted returned a positive result for Clostebol, a banned substance,” Tatis said in a statement issued by the MLB Players Association. “It turns out that I inadvertently took a medication to treat ringworm that contained 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 (Seidler, the Padres’ chairman) AJ (Preller, the Padres’ President of Baseball Operation), 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 on 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 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 rejoining my teammates on the field in 2023.”
Before the 2021 season, Tatís signed a 14-year, $340 million contract extension with the Padres, at the time the third-richest in MLB history, He has been out of action this season after fracturing his wrist in an off-season motorcycle accident. He had just begun a rehab assignment in the minor leagues days ago and was expected to return to action with the Padres by the end of August. He will now miss the rest of this season and the beginning of the 2023 season.