Fernando Tatis Jr. suspended 80 games after positive PED test

Earlier today, Major League Baseball announced that San Diego Padres’ star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. has been suspended 80 games after testing positive for Costebol, a banned substance on the league’s performance-enhancing drug list.

In a recent statement released by the Major League Baseball Player Association, Tatis said he “inadvertently took a medication to treat ringworm that contained Clostebol” and that his failure to use “the resources available to me in order to ensure that no banned substances were in what I took” resulted in his suspension. You can find that statement by clicking here.

Per Mark Feinsand, the Padres had this to say about Tatis’ suspension:

“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 had yet to appear in a game this season after fracturing his wrist in a motorcycle accident. Since arriving in the big leagues, Tatis has missed time with a broken back and shoulder subluxation.

Tatis had just begun a rehab assignment with the San Antonio Missions at the Double-A level and was set to return to the Padres shortly, potentially on the team’s return to San Diego after this current road trip.

In the midst of a playoff push, the Friars will now be without Tatis for the remainder of this season and the start of next. San Diego currently occupies the final wild card spot in the National League, owning just a one-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers.