🛑 BREAKING NEWS: Padres All-Star Suspended After Positive Drug Test
Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar, who earned his first-ever All‑Star selection last season with the San Diego Padres, has been suspended for 80 games without pay after testing positive for hCG, a banned performance-enhancing substance, Major League Baseball announced Monday
The 32-year-old Curaçao native signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the Braves during the offseason. His breakout 2024 campaign with the Padres included a .280/.380/.459 slash line, 24 home runs, 85 RBI, and a Silver Slugger award—accolades that earned him MVP votes and his first All‑Star nod.
In a statement via MLBPA, Profar expressed devastation: “I am deeply passionate about the game… I would never knowingly take a banned substance… I take full responsibility and accept MLB’s decision.”
The Braves released a statement expressing surprise and disappointment but reaffirmed their support for MLB’s drug policy . Profar’s suspension begins immediately.
🎯 San Diego Fans Reeling as Former Favorite Profar Faces 80‑Game Ban
Padres faithful are in disbelief following the announcement that former cornerstone Jurickson Profar has been hit with an 80-game suspension for testing positive .
After moving to Atlanta in the off-season, Profar’s previous heroics in San Diego—marked by his multi-positional versatility, career-high stats, and Silver Slugger award—endeared him to Padres Nation . A local blog poignantly described his seismic impact:
“His breakout 2024 season with the Padres cemented his status as a fan favorite… He slashed .280/.380/.459… contributing significantly to the Padres’ 94-win campaign.”
Though proud of his past with San Diego, Profar now faces a daunting suspension that cannot be appealed, per MLB policy
⚖️ Inside the Suspension: Profar’s Statement and MLB’s Steroid Policy
MLB’s “first positive steroid test = 80‑game suspension” rule was enforced in full against Jurickson Profar, who tested positive for hCG—a fertility drug prohibited under the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program ,
Profar’s statement is both contrite and firm:
- He professed never knowingly taking a banned substance.
- He said he accepted the findings “without reservation.”
- He vowed to “learn from this experience”
MLB Commissioner’s Office noted the suspension starts immediately and is non-negotiable. The Braves expressed dismay but pledged their respect for the program’s integrity .
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