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SCOTTSDALE, AZ – MARCH 02: Infielder Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres jogs around the bases after hitting a grand slam home run in the top of the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 2, 2021 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)
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SCOTTSDALE, AZ – MARCH 02: Infielder Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres jogs around the bases after hitting a grand slam home run in the top of the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 2, 2021 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)
It is 2022, and Major League Baseball’s steroid era has still not left the game. A few days ago, Fernando Tatis Jr. got suspended for 80 games for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Agreement.
His father, a veteran baseball player for the New York Mets, Fernando Tatis Sr., considers the punishment for his son to be absurd. And he has a lot to say about it.
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Tatis Sr. does not think his son intentionally took any kind of performance-enhancing drugs, but the test results say otherwise.
Is Fernando Tatis Jr. innocent?
Last week, the young shortstop tested positive for taking performance-enhancing drugs. He tested positive for the banned substance Clostebol, which is an anabolic steroid.
via Getty
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 10: San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) jokes around during batting practice before the MLB game between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 10, 2021 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
However, his father, Tatis Sr. in an interview, said that his son took a medication to treat ringworm that contained the banned substance, and thus his drug test came positive.
The veteran baseball player does not think the punishment his son got was fair, and he said,?“This is a catastrophe what has taken place, not just for Jr., but for all of baseball. There are millions of fans who are gonna stop watching baseball now. What has occurred is a catastrophe for baseball.”
First thinking to refute the ban, Tatis Jr. has now agreed to sit out the game for 80 more matches. It is known only to Tatis Jr if or not he is innocent.
Has Tatis Jr. apologized for his deed?
Tatis Jr. firsthand has not apologized for his mistake, but on his behalf, The Major League Baseball Player’s Association has released a statement. Wherein, the all-star player apologized to his team and everyone else.??
The Major League Baseball Players Association issued the following statement on behalf of Fernando Tatis, Jr.: pic.twitter.com/gCNVcs0a5Y
— MLBPA Communications (@MLBPA_News) August 12, 2022
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The statement read, “I have no excuse for my error, and I would never do anything to cheat or disrespect this game I love.”
In addition to this, the statement said,?“I am completely devastated.”
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The player signed a $340 million contract extension with the San Diego Padres last year. And watching the bright talent like Tatis Jr. would have been a treat for every baseball fan. But, it seems like it has to wait for quite some time.
