NEW YORK (AP) — Toronto Blue Jays infielder Orelvis Martínez was suspended 80 games by Major League Soccer on Sunday after testing positive for Clomiphene, a performance-enhancing drug, two days after he made his major league debut. .
Martínez, 22, has been part of the Blue Jays’ 40-player roster since November 2022 and went 3-1 with one strike on Friday in Cleveland.
The player released a statement apologizing to the Blue Jays and their fans.
“For the past two years, I have been trying to start a family with my girlfriend. During the offseason we visited a fertility clinic in the Dominican Republic and, after a laboratory analysis, they prescribed a treatment, which included a medication called Rejun 50,” Martínez said in the statement released by the players’ association. .
“Unfortunately, Rejun 50 contains a banned substance called clomiphene. We wanted to keep this matter private, even within our family, and trusted the doctor who assured us that this treatment did not include performance-enhancing drugs. Therefore, I made the mistake of not disclosing this to my team or the MLBPA. That being said, I took full responsibility for my actions and accepted my suspension.”
Martínez signed in July 2018 with Toronto with a bonus of $3.51 million and rose through the Blue Jays’ minor league system. He had a .260 batting average, with 16 home runs, 46 RBIs and a .867 OPS in 63 games with Triple-A Buffalo.
“The Blue Jays fully support Major League Baseball’s Drug Prevention and Treatment Program and believe strongly in keeping the game at an even level.”
“We were equally surprised and disappointed to learn of Orelvis Martínez’s suspension,” general manager Ross Atkins said in a statement. “We will do everything in our power to ensure that Orelvis learns from his mistake.
Orelvis will lose half his salary. His contract is $740,000 in the Major Leagues and $120,600 in the minors.
2024-06-23 16:45:27
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