Braves Outfielder Jurickson Profar Suspended 162 Games for Second PED Violation
Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar has been suspended for 162 games by Major League Baseball (MLB) after testing positive for exogenous testosterone and its metabolites, the league announced Tuesday . This marks Profar’s second violation of MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, resulting in the full-season suspension.
Second Offense Leads to Harsh Penalty
As a second-time offender, Profar’s suspension will be carried out without pay, and he is barred from participating in any postseason or World Baseball Classic games. The 33-year-old Profar previously received an 80-game suspension during the 2025 season after testing positive for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a substance often used after steroid cycles .
Financial Implications for Braves
The Braves signed Profar to a three-year, $42 million contract in January 2025 . The team will save approximately $18 million due to the suspension, as they were already over the luxury tax threshold . Profar was due to earn $15 million in salary for the 2026 season.
Braves Respond to Suspension
The Atlanta Braves released a statement expressing their disappointment with the news. “We were incredibly disappointed to learn that Jurickson tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance and is in violation of MLB’s Drug Prevention and Treatment Program,” the statement read. “Our players are consistently educated about the Program and the consequences if they are found to be in violation. The Atlanta Braves fully support the Program.”
Profar’s 2025 Performance and Career Overview
Profar appeared in 76 games for the Braves in 2025 after returning from his initial suspension on July 2, posting a .245/.353/.434 slash line with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs . He has played for the Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, and Colorado Rockies throughout his Major League Baseball career, and was an All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner in 2024 while with the Padres .
Appeal Process
The Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) plans to appeal the suspension, according to reports . However, appeals for second-time offenders do not result in a stay of the suspension, meaning it will begin on Friday.