San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr is handed 80-GAME suspension after violating PED policy

San Diego Padres’ star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. has been handed a huge 80-game suspension by Major League Baseball for violating the league’s drug policy.

Tatis, 23, is just 18 months into a monumental 14-year, $330million MLB contract, but he will not be paid for the entirety of his ban, which extends through the whole of this season and well into the next.

Incredibly, Tatis broke his silence on Friday night to reveal that his ‘mistake’ was down to medication he was taking for ringworm, while he also confirmed he had no plans for an appeal and would begin immediately serving his suspension.

Tatis had been rehabbing his way back from wrist injury and had recently began an assignment with the Padres Double-A affiliate, but is now not going to see any MLB action for the foreseeable future.

There was no firm timetable on his injury return but he was projected to be back with San Diego in mid-August, which will now not be the case after MLB announced the ban on Friday evening.

Tatis tested positive for Clostebol, which is an anabolic steroid derivative of the natural hormone testosterone, and is on the MLB’s banned list.

He will miss the final 48 games of this season and the first 32 games of next season, per Bill Shaikin of the LA Times.

In a statement posted on their website, MLB said: ‘The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. has received an 80-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Clostebol, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

Tatis reacts in dugout during sixth inning of game against Arizona Diamondbacks  

Tatis claimed he took medication for ringworm which contained a banned substance 

‘The suspension of Tatis is effective immediately.’

In a statement issued by the Major League Baseball players association Tatis issued a full apology for the suspension and claimed he did not intentionally take the drug to gain an advantage.

‘It turns out that I inadvertently took a medication to treat ringworm that contained Clostebol,’ Tatis said. ‘I should have used the resources available to me in order to ensure that no banned substances were in what I took. I failed to do so.

‘I want to apologize to Peter, AJ, the entire Padres organization, my teammates, Major League Baseball, and fans everywhere for my mistake. I have no excuse for my error, and I would never do anything to cheat or disrespect this game I love. I have taken countless drug tests throughout my professional career, including on March 29, 2022, all of which have returned negative results until this test.

‘I am completely devastated. There is nowhere else in the world I would rather be than on the field competing with my teammates. After initially appealing the suspension, I have realized that my mistake was the cause of this result, and for that reason I have decided to start serving my suspension immediately. I look forward to rejoining my teammates on the field in 2023.’

The Padres currently sit second in the National League West with a record of 63-51. They are 16 games behind the Los Angles Dodgers in the division but hold control of first place in the NL wildcard race.