The Minnesota Twins received some bad news regarding their biggest offseason free agent signing. Major League Baseball has suspended Ervin Santana for 80 games without pay after he tested positive for Stanozolol.
Ervin Santana has received an 80-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Stanozolol, MLB announces
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) April 3, 2015
The Twins signed Santana in the offseason to a four-year, $55 million contract to help bolster their struggling rotation. It’s the largest contract the team has ever given to a free agent.
Santana was slated to start the Twins’ April 8th game in Detroit. The team says his suspension will affect the first 80 games of the season.
The #MNTwins have moved RHP Mike Pelfrey to the rotation & recalled LHP Aaron Thompson for the bullpen.
— Dustin Morse (@morsecode) April 3, 2015
The team issued a statement about the situation.
“We were disappointed to learn of the suspension of Ervin Santana for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. We fully support Major League Baseball’s policy and its efforts to eliminate performance enhancing substances from our game. Per the protocol outline in the Joint Drug Program, the Minnesota Twins will not comment further on this matter.”
Santana won’t be eligible to return to the Twins until July. He also issued a statement on Friday.
Ervin Santana releases a statement on his 80-game suspension pic.twitter.com/G9AiOoGTHK
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) April 3, 2015
USA Today notes that Stanozolol is a steroid that is popular among Olympic athletes. It is known to be much easier to detect during a drug screening.
Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson was stripped of a gold medal after he tested positive for the substance during the 1988 Olympics.
