(Reuters) -Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar has been suspended for 80 games without pay after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance, Major League Baseball said on Monday.
Profar tested positive for Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) in violation of MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, the league said, adding that the suspension would begin immediately.
Profar, 32, made the All-Star team for the first time last season as a member of the San Diego Padres and came to Atlanta in the off-season on a reported three-year, $42 million contract.
“We were surprised and extremely disappointed to learn that Jurickson Profar tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program,” the Braves said in a statement on Monday.
“We fully support the Program and are hopeful that Jurickson will learn from this experience.”
Profar said he had never knowingly taken a banned substance but accepted MLB’s decision.
“I want to apologize to the entire Braves organization, my teammates and the fans,” Profar said in a statement.
“It is because of my deep love and respect for this game that I would never knowingly do anything to cheat it. I have been tested my entire career, including eight times last season alone, and have never tested positive.
“I would never willingly take a banned substance, but I take full responsibility and accept MLB’s decision.”
Since making his Major League debut in 2012, the Curacao native has posted a career .245 batting average with 111 home runs and 444 RBIs in 1,123 games with the Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, Padres, Colorado Rockies and Braves.
(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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