Toronto Blue Jays infielder Orelvis Martínez has been suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball after testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug Clomiphene. The suspension was announced just two days after Martínez made his major league debut.
Martínez, 22, issued a statement apologizing to the Blue Jays and their fans, explaining that he had been undergoing fertility treatment with his girlfriend, which led to the inadvertent use of a banned substance contained in a prescribed medication called Rejun 50.
Despite the doctor's assurance that the treatment did not include performance-enhancing drugs, Martínez failed to disclose this information to his team or the MLBPA, accepting full responsibility for his actions and the resulting suspension.
The Blue Jays expressed their support for MLB's drug prevention and treatment program and stated their disappointment over Martínez's suspension. General manager Ross Atkins emphasized the team's commitment to helping Martínez learn from his mistake.
Martínez, who signed with Toronto in 2018, will lose approximately half of his salary due to the suspension. He had been performing well in the minor leagues, hitting .260 with 16 home runs, 46 RBIs, and an .867 OPS in 63 games at Triple-A Buffalo this season.
Despite the setback, Martínez expressed his determination to learn from the experience and return to the field in September. He becomes the eighth player penalized for performance-enhancing drugs this year, with five suspensions under the minor league program and one under MLB's new drug program for minor league players outside the United States and Canada.
It remains to be seen how Martínez's suspension will impact the Blue Jays and his future in the league as he serves his 80-game ban.
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