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Oakland Athletics outfielder Ramon Laureano was suspended 80 games without pay by Major League Baseball on Friday after testing positive for an anabolic steroid.
MLB said Laureano, a 27-year-old who is in his fourth season with the A’s, has tested positive for performance-enhancing drug nandrolone. The suspension takes effect immediately.
Laureano denied knowingly taking the banned substance in a statement released by the players’ association and said he was “shocked” when he learned the test was positive.
“I have worked too hard and given too much to this sport to disrespect or cheat the game I love,” he said in the statement. “I would never do anything to dishonor my family, teammates and coaches or do anything to disappoint the many young ball players who look up to me.
“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’s started a weekend home series 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.
Fellow A outfielder Starling Marte, acquired by Oakland in a trade on July 28, was suspended 80 games by the MLB for testing positive for the same substance in 2017 while serving with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Laureano is hitting .246 with 14 home runs and 39 RBIs in 88 games this season. He regularly made highlighter shots from central court to save races.
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.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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