Braves’ Jurickson Profar Faces 162-Game Ban for Second PED Violation

In this post, let’s dig into the blockbuster news: Atlanta Braves designated hitter Jurickson Profar just got slapped with a 162-game suspension after testing positive for exogenous testosterone and its metabolites. It’s his second PED violation in a year.

The penalty knocks him out of the postseason and the World Baseball Classic. He also loses the rest of his $15 million salary, and now he’s headed into an appeal process that might drag all the way to arbitration.

This shakes up the Braves’ lineup, stirs up the MLB PED conversation, and throws another curveball into Profar’s long, unpredictable career.

Suspension Overview

Profar’s ban starts right away, sidelining him for a full season and a half. That’s one of the toughest penalties MLB’s handed out under its current drug policy.

The league says exogenous testosterone triggered the 162-game suspension. MLB has really cracked down on second-time offenders since 2014.

With this 162-game hit and his previous 80-game ban for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) earlier this season, Profar’s facing the fallout from back-to-back violations.

What the punishment entails

Key points:

• The suspension makes the 33-year-old ineligible for the postseason and the World Baseball Classic, where he’d planned to play for the Netherlands.
• Profar forfeits the rest of his $15 million salary for the 2025 season, part of the three-year, $42 million deal he signed with the Braves in January 2025.
• He plans to appeal through the players’ union to independent arbitrator Martin F. Scheinman.

Impact on the Braves and the Game

The Braves now have to pick up the pieces after a season that included a 76-86 record and a bunch of injuries to pitchers Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep.

Profar had been a key part of Atlanta’s new plan after a standout 2024 with the Padres. Now, his absence leaves a big hole in the lineup—they were counting on his versatility and knack for getting on base.

The front office has said they support MLB’s drug program, calling the positive test “incredibly disappointing.” They also admitted this is a setback for their 2025 plans, and probably beyond.

Profile: Jurickson Profar

Profar’s journey has been a long one for a guy who was once baseball’s top prospect. He debuted at 19 and spent years battling injuries, bouncing between teams, then finally found a late-career groove in 2024 that landed him a big contract with the Braves.

After signing with Atlanta, Profar put up a solid line when he returned from his earlier suspension: .245/.353/.434 with 14 homers and 43 RBIs. That run gave fans real hope for 2025.

The big contract in January 2025 showed how much the Braves valued him as a switch-hitting veteran who could anchor the middle of the order. Now, though, that whole story takes a sharp turn as MLB’s PED policy comes down hard.

MLB PED Landscape: A Short-Term dip in Suspensions

MLB has seen fewer PED suspensions lately. There were only two full-season bans last season, and just five in the past three years combined.

The Profar case stands out among the 162-game bans in recent memory. It really shows how the league keeps pushing for deterrence and accountability.

Other players who’ve hit that 162-game mark include:

• J.C. Mejia
• Robinson Cano
• Francis Martes
• Marlon Byrd
• Jenrry Mejia

This whole saga keeps reminding us of two things. First, MLB wants a level playing field. Second, there’s always a human story—like a player who once showed elite promise but now faces a sport that’s shaped by strict drug-testing rules.

For Profar, coming back won’t just be about getting physically ready. He’ll also need to rebuild his reputation after a second major PED violation, which is no small task.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Sources: Braves’ Profar faces 162-game ban, 2nd PED violation