Toronto Blue Jays infielder Orelvis Martinez has been suspended 80 games after testing positive for Clomiphene, a performance enhancing substance, MLB announced Sunday.
“The Blue Jays fully support Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, and strongly believe in keeping the game on a level playing field,” the team said in a statement. “We were both surprised and disappointed to learn of Orelvis Martinez’s suspension. We will do everything in our power to ensure Orelvis has learned from this mistake.
“Orelvis has our support, and we know he will get through this.”
One of the top prospects in the Blue Jays organization, Martinez made his major-league debut Friday against the Cleveland Guardians and picked up his first career hit during the game.
Martinez issued a statement through the Major League Baseball Players Association saying he has been trying to start a family with his girlfriend for the past two years. They were prescribed Rejun 50, a medication which contains Clomiphene.
“We want to keep this matter private, even within our family, and trusted the doctor who assured us this treatment did not include performance enhancing drugs,” the statement said. “Therefore, I made the mistake of not disclosing this to my team or the MLBPA.
“With that said, I took full responsibility for my actions and accepted my suspension.”
The 22-year-old from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, was called up from triple-A Buffalo last Tuesday when the team placed shortstop Bo Bichette on the 10-day injured list due to a right calf strain.
Martinez batted .260 with 16 homers and 46 RBIs over 63 games with Buffalo this season.
