Philadelphia Phillies star Jose Alvarado gets massive ban for failing drugs test

By ERIC BLUM

Philadelphia Phillies star Jose Alvarado has been suspended by Major League Baseball for 80 games without pay for taking a performance enhancing drug, effective immediately.  

Alvarado will not appeal the suspension and is now ineligible for the postseason should the Phillies qualify.  

Philadelphia general manager Dave Dombrowksi stated the drug, exogenous testosterone, was taken for weight loss, not for a competitive advantage. 

Alvarado was the bullpen ace for the Phillies with seven saves on the season and a 4-1 record. 

The Venezuelan also had 25 strikeouts and has only allowed one home run in 20 innings pitched this season. 

His last appearance before the suspension was a two-out effort against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. Alvarado will be eligible to return to the field around mid-August.  

Phillies star Jose Alvarado has been suspended by Major League Baseball for 80 games

Philadelphia general manager Dave Dombrowksi stated the drug use was unintentional

The Phillies have the third-best record in the National League entering Sunday’s games and are in the thick of the early-season playoff race at 27-18. 

The team now has a glaring hole in its relief pitchers, which will likely be taken care of through a trade as the team hopes to win a World Series for the first time since 2008. 

Philadelphia has made the postseason each of the last three years, including a National League pennant win in 2022 before losing to the Houston Astros in six in the championship tilt.  

By Sunday’s game, Alvarado’s locker had already been cleaned out. 

The 29-year-old has been with the Phillies since 2021 after breaking into the big leagues and spending four seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays. 

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Philadelphia Phillies star Jose Alvarado gets massive ban for failing drugs test

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