Google News
Milwaukee Brewers catcher Pedro Severino was suspended for 80 games, the MLB announced on Tuesday. Severino, who signed a one-year, $1.9 million deal with the Brewers in the offseason, returned a positive test for performance-enhancing substance Clomiphene.
Clomiphene is a drug used to enduce ovulation. Severino, who spent three seasons with the Baltimore Orioles before signing with the Brewers, will lose about half of his $1.9 million deal. After the suspension was announced, Severino announced a statement.
In his statement, Severino claimed he only used the drug because he wanted to increase his and wife's chances of starting a family, not because he wanted to enhance his performance on the field.
Severino: I'm sorry and I apologize to the Brewers and their fans
"Since late 2020, my wife and I had been trying to start a family unsuccessfully," Severino said in a statement issued by the players' association.
"When we returned to the Dominican Republic after the 2021 season, we sought medical assistance to determine why we had not succeeded. One of the doctors I consulted with prescribed me with a medication to treat infertility issues.
Unfortunately, I now know that the medication contained Clomiphene. I accept responsibility for this mistake and have decided not to challenge my suspension." Also, Severino noted this was his first offence. "I have been tested more than 100 times in my career and I had never had an issue," Severino said.
President of baseball operations David Stearns revealed the team is looking at making additions at the catcher position. "This time of year, this timeframe of a couple of days before Opening Day, is not ideal to be looking for a specific team need, but we're already actively engaged in conversations," Stearns said.
"We'll see if anything comes of that in the next 24-48 hours, and if not, we have confidence in what we have internally."