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Oakland Athletics center fielder Ramón Laureano was suspended for 80 games without pay by the commissioner’s office on Friday after testing positive for a performance enhancing substance.
The commissioner’s office said Laureano tested positive for nandrolone in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The suspension takes effect immediately.
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“I would never knowingly ingest any banned substance and endanger the game I have loved all my life. When I found out I had tested positive for Nandrolone I was shocked,” said Laureano in a statement released by the players. union.
“I take great care of my body and have an extremely strict diet. Based on the tiny amount that was briefly in my body, I learned that it was probably contamination of something. that I had ingested.
“I was educated on DEPs through the RBI program and Baseball Factory while growing up. I know I don’t need any of these to play on the baseball field. All of my athletic success has come. for my hard work, focus and dedication to the game. “
The penalty fell just over four hours before the As began a home weekend streak against the Texas Rangers.
“The As were disappointed to learn of this suspension. We fully support the MLB Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program and will welcome Ramón again after the discipline has been served,” the As said in a statement. communicated.
Laureano, 27, of the Dominican Republic, is hitting .246 with 14 home runs and 39 RBI in 88 games this season.
“You have to move on,” A manager Bob Melvin said. “Everyone feels bad for what happened to him. In baseball you have to have a short memory. There are only 50 games left. We have to go out there and play with the pieces that we have. We still have some good ones. It’s hard to lose. “
Laureano regularly made highlight throws from central field to save runs.
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Oakland, the defending AL West champion who reached the playoffs in each of the past three seasons, is in second place behind rival Houston Astros in the division race.
“I would like to apologize for the distraction this may cause my teammates, Billy Beane, David Forst, and the entire organization, community and Oakland fans,” said Laureano. “I’m devastated. Anyone who really knows me as a person knows how much I love the game and that I would never intentionally do something like this.”
Laureano became the fifth player suspended this year under the major league drug program after Miami pitcher Paul Campbell, Colorado third baseman Colton Welker, San Francisco pitcher Daniel Santos and Seattle pitcher Héctor Santiago.
“I think everyone was shocked,” Melvin said. “These things are not fun. Ramon is beloved in our clubhouse. They have to play by the rules and everyone knows them. Unfortunately, we are in the position we are in right now.”
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