MLB star Fernando Tatis Jr offered up a bizarre reason to why he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, claiming he was on ringworm medication.
The San Diego Padres player copped a massive 80-game ban by the MLB as a result of violating their Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
Tatis Jr, who is the cover athlete of the MLB The Show 21 video game, tested positive for Clostebol, which helps mimic the muscle-building properties of testosterone.
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However, in some countries, Clostebol is also used to treat ringworm, which the 23-year-old claims he was taking medication for.
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Tatis Jr released a statement, saying: “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.”
Currently, no medications in the United States or Canada use the steroid in medications to treat fungal infections.
His statement continued: “I want to apologise to Peter, AJ, the entire Padres organisation, 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 the game I love.
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“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 in the world I would rather be than on the field competing with my teammates. After initially appealing the suspension, I have realised 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.”
Padres signed one of the biggest contracts in MLB history ahead of the 2021 season, a 14-year, $340 million contract extension with the Padres.
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However, he has had a torrid time since, missing the entirety of the 2022 season so far after fracturing his wrist in a motorcycle accident during the offseason.
Upon learning of his suspension, the Padres released a statement saying they were ‘surprised and extremely disappointed’ to learn of the news and hoped that Tatis Jr ‘will learn from this experience’.
Topics: Baseball, United States, Australia
Jayden Collins