Sophia Yeskulsky | Head Editor
April 3, 2025
Another MLB season, another PED suspension. This time, it’s Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar who got hit with an 80-game ban after testing positive for Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), a performance-enhancing drug.
PEDs (Performance-Enhancing Drugs) have long been a controversial topic in sports. They offer players increased strength, quicker recovery times, and a competitive edge that doesn’t come naturally. While some may see them as a shortcut to greatness, the consequences are severe both for players and the teams that invest millions in them.
For the Braves, this is a serious hit. Profar, who signed a three-year, $42 million deal in the offseason, was expected to be a key piece of their lineup. Now, they’ll be without him for half the season. The team responded to the ban with disappointment but reiterated their support for MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
Profar, however, insists this was a mistake. In a statement, he said, “I would never willingly take a banned substance, but I take full responsibility and accept MLB’s decision.” He went on to express frustration over the situation, saying, “I have been tested my entire career, including eight times last season alone, and have never tested positive.”
This suspension also raises some eyebrows because of Profar’s connection to Fernando Tatis Jr., his former teammate with the San Diego Padres. The two trained together in the offseason, and Tatis Jr. also served an 80-game suspension in 2022 after testing positive for Clostebol, another banned substance. Coincidence? Maybe. But it certainly doesn’t help Profar’s case. Senior and long time Padres fan Liberty Maxwell thought “Profar’s connection to Tatis Jr. highlights the dark side of the MLB and what players feel pressured to do.”
PED violations aren’t a rare sight in today’s game. Past suspensions include pitchers J.C. Mejía and Fernando Abad. This proves that despite strict testing, players are still getting caught. Senior Isabelle DeLaurie expressed her frustration by saying, “At this point, it feels like every season there’s another big name getting caught.” Some blame the pressure to perform, recover from injuries, or keep up with the competition, but whatever the reason, these bans keep happening.
As the MLB continues its fight against PED use, one thing is certain: no matter how talented a player is, the risk of getting caught just isn’t worth it.
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