Cubs Rival Has HUGE Blow
Coming into the 2017 baseball season, there were few teams that should actually push the Chicago Cubs for the NL Central title. While yes, the St Louis Cardinals are always a viable team and you can never count them out, perhaps the biggest threat was the Pittsburgh Pirates. Of course, this was before the Pirates swept the Cubs, and now of course before one of their biggest stars was suspended for performance enhancing drugs.
Starling Marte has received an 80-game suspension without pay, effective immediately, after testing positive for Nandrolone, a PED.
— Adam Berry (@adamdberry) April 18, 2017
Yes, Starling Marte, the man tapped to replace Andrew McCutchen in centerfield, has been suspended 80-games for testing positive for Nandrolone, a synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) derived from testosterone (Wikipedia). According to Steroid.com, Nandrolone is one of the most popular anabolic steroids to ever be created and has been a staple among performance enhancing athletes of all types since its inception.
Per MLB’s PED policy, this appears to be the first positive test from Marte. Here is baseball’s PED Policy.
Positive steroid test results
See also: List of Major League Baseball players suspended for performance-enhancing drugs
First positive test result: 80 game suspension
Second positive test result: 162 game suspension (the entire season, including the postseason)
Third positive test result: lifetime ban from MLB
Players who test positive for either their first or second tests are given the option to appeal, in which scientific tests will be conducted to prove validity of test. Within that period of time, they are restricted from participation in all baseball activity. If an appeal is granted, the suspension may be reduced by 40 games for the first offense or 80 games for the second offense. There is no appeal for a third offense. All suspensions are without pay. In addition, a suspended player can be replaced on the active roster by another player. If a player is on the disabled list, the suspension is served while on the disabled list. Unless a suspension is reduced on appeal, a suspended player is not allowed to participate in that year’s post-season even if his suspension ends before then.
Players who receive a lifetime ban after a third positive test may apply for reinstatement after one year and be eligible to be reinstated after two years. Jenrry Mejía became the only player to be permanently banned under the drug policy on February 12, 2016.
