50 Game suspension for San Diego Padres’ Yasmani Grandal for testosterone use - MLB News
Yasmani Grandal took up the catching duties for the San Diego Padres in the latter half of the 2012 season. He will not be making a return any earlier in 2013 after receiving a 50 games suspension from the commissioner of Major League Baseball for use of
testosterone.
The 23-year-old who just made his Major League debut in June 2012 will not be receiving pay for the suspension period. The suspension will take effect at the start of 2013 season. The use of testosterone is considered as violation under baseball’s Joint
Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
Yasmani started the 2012 season with Triple-A Tucson and had a successful run as a batter. He had a batting average of .323 with 35 RBI’s and six home-runs. Acquired by the Padres in a deal with Cincinnati Reds last December, the catcher joined Padres in
early June this year.
The earliest Grandal can return to the game is on May 28, when the Padres will take on the Seattle Mariners in Seattle. The catcher made an appearance in 55 Major League games in 2012, 52 of them as a starting catcher. His batting numbers were quite impressive
with an average .297, 36 RBI’s and eight home-runs including two in a single game against the Colorado Rockies on June 30.
Padres expressed their disappointment on the occurrence of such an event. However they did not comment further.
"We were disappointed to learn of the suspension of Yasmani Grandal 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 drugs
from our game. Per the protocol outlined by Major League Baseball's Collective Bargaining Agreement, we will not comment further on this matter," the Padres said.
This is a second such suspension in November so far. Last Friday, Baltimore Orioles’ outfielder Ryan Adams was suspended for 25 games by the Commissioner of MLB after testing positive for amphetamine.
Under the MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, which was established in 2006, there are eight narcotic drugs, 70 steroids and 56 stimulants that are banned. The penalty in each case is different with the maximum being a life time ban from participating
in the Major league.
Several former MLB players including Fred McGriff and Mark Mulder have criticised the policy as being too soft. McGriff said in an interview, "The money is so big, and 50 games is nothing.” Mulder advocated an instant life ban on anyone who was caught using
performance enhancing substances without any second chances.
One can hope that players will understand that the use of these substances does not help them in the long run and can serve to derail their careers altogether. They need to respect the rules of the game and make sure that they do not violate them. Performance
enhancement through these substances cheats the game and those playing it fairly.
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