In a significant development for Major League Baseball (MLB), free agent outfielder Max Kepler has been handed an 80-game suspension. The penalty was announced on Friday after the player tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance, violating the league's strict drug program.
Details of the Doping Violation
Kepler tested positive for Epitrenbolone, a substance known to be a metabolite of Trenbolone. This compound has a controversial history, having been found in some body-building products and previously used to promote growth in cattle. Notably, this marks the first time an MLB player has been suspended for this specific substance since the league began publicly announcing penalty details in 2005.
The substance has precedent in other sports. In 2018, boxer Manuel Charr faced suspension for Epitrenbolone. Furthermore, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) disqualified 90-year-old cyclist Carl Grove from a world record in 2019 after a positive test for the same compound.
Kepler's Career and Acceptance of Suspension
Max Kepler, who will turn 33 next month, is an 11-year major league veteran. He spent the first decade of his career with the Minnesota Twins before playing the last season with the Philadelphia Phillies. He entered free agency following the World Series.
A person familiar with the process informed The Associated Press that Kepler accepted the 80-game suspension without contesting the discipline through a grievance. The source requested anonymity as this detail was not part of the official announcement. There has been no immediate comment from the MLB Players Association or Kepler's agency.
Impact and Context Within MLB
Last season, Kepler agreed to a one-year contract worth $10 million with the Phillies. His performance included a .216 batting average, 18 home runs, and 52 RBIs. His 2024 season was hampered by left patellar tendinitis, and he underwent core surgery after the season to repair a sports hernia.
Kepler's suspension adds to the list of recent doping violations in the league. In the previous year, fourteen players were suspended for positive tests under the minor and major league programs. This includes high-profile cases like Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar (suspended March 31) and Philadelphia Phillies closer José Alvarado (suspended May 25), both receiving 80-game bans.
Even if Kepler remains without a contract by opening day in March, MLB and the players' union typically allow a suspended free agent to serve his penalty while he attempts to negotiate a deal with teams.
Born in Germany, Kepler's baseball journey began when he signed with the Minnesota Twins at the age of 16 in 2009. Over his major league career, he holds a .235 average with 179 home runs and 560 RBIs.
