Toronto Blue Jays infielder Orelvis Martinez, who was recently promoted to the majors, has been suspended 80 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug on Sunday.
The team announced that Martinez, who was making his major league debut on Friday against the Cleveland Guardians, tested positive for clomiphene.
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Orelvis Martinez of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a grounder in the top of the eighth inning against the Guardians on Friday, June 21, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Oglocki)
“For the past two years, my girlfriend and I have been trying to start a family. During the offseason, we visited a fertility clinic in the Dominican Republic where we were tested and prescribed a treatment that includes the medication Rejun50,” Martinez said in a statement through the MLB Players Association.
“Unfortunately, Rejun 50 contains a banned substance called clomiphene. We wanted to keep this matter private, even within our family, and trusted our doctors to assure us that the treatment did not contain any performance-enhancing drugs. As such, I made a mistake in not disclosing this to my team or the MLB Players Association. That said, I take full responsibility for my actions and have accepted my suspension.”
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Toronto Blue Jays player Orelvis Martinez celebrates at first base after getting his first hit in the majors against the Guardians, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Oglocki)
Martinez, 22, signed an international contract from the Dominican Republic in 2018. He quickly rose through the Blue Jays farm system and was ranked as high as 75th in Baseball America’s prospect rankings.
He appeared in 63 games for Triple-A Buffalo, hitting 16 home runs and batting .260.
“The Blue Jays fully support Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program and believe strongly in maintaining a level playing field in baseball,” Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said.
“We were surprised and disappointed to learn of Orelvis Martinez’s suspension. We will do everything in our power to help Orelvis learn from this mistake.”
Toronto Blue Jays’ Orelvis Martinez walks back to the dugout after striking out against the Guardians, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Oglocki)
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He will forfeit about half of his salary: $740,000 in the major leagues and $120,600 in the minor leagues.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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