One of the biggest problems over the years in baseball has been the use of PEDs (Performance Enhancing Drugs). Major League Baseball has cracked down very hard on users found using these drugs over the years, and we have seen a little less frequent abuse. But occasionally, we see a player get caught for using a substance, and it continues to hurt the game.
On Sunday, Toronto Blue Jays top prospect Orelvis Martinez was suspended 8- games for violating MLB‘s performance-enhancing drug policy. Martinez, 22, had just made his big league debut on Friday for Toronto, so this is certainly a shock for everyone. He tested positive for Clomiphene, which is a fertility drug that is on the banned substance list of the league.
Toronto Blue Jays infielder Orelvis Martinez has been suspended 80 games for violating MLB’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Martinez, 22, is Toronto’s top hitting prospect and made his big league debut Friday.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 23, 2024
Martinez released a statement following the announcement, taking full responsibility for the suspension. He said that he and his wife had been trying to start a family, so they visited a fertility clinic in the Dominican Republic.
“We wanted to keep this matter private, even within our family and trusted the doctor who assured us this treatment did not include performance-enhancing drugs. Therefore, I made the mistake of not disclosing this to my team or the MLBPA. With that said, I took full responsibility for my negligence and accepted my suspension.”
In a statement, Orelvis Martinez said he was prescribed a fertility drug this winter that led to his positive PED test.
“We wanted to keep this matter private, even within our family, and trusted the doctor who assured us this treatment did not include performance-enhancing…
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 23, 2024
Following the news, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins released a statement expressing his shock at the announcement.
“We were both surprised and disappointed to learn of Orelvis Martinez’s suspension,” Blue Jays executive vice president and general manager Ross Atkins said in a statement. “We will do everything in our power to ensure Orelvis has learned from his mistake.”
Atkins reiterated that Martinez had the support of the Blue Jays. He won’t be able to return to the Blue Jays until September, and this is a massive blow to a team that has been scratching and clawing all year long. Toronto has a record of 35-41 on the season, sitting in last place within the American League East. Martinez was called up after starting shortstop Bo Bichette was placed on the injured list.
In his big league debut, Martinez went 1-for-3, striking out once. His arrival in the majors was seen as a beckon of hope for Toronto, but it was taken away as fast as he arrived. This will be a massive learning lesson for Martinez and all players to be more careful about taking any substance going forward.
Uncommon Knowledge
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