Martinez given 80-game ban two days after MLB debut

Toronto Blue Jays infielder Orelvis Martinez has been suspended for 80 games for violating Major League Baseball's doping policy.

The 22-year-old from nan Dominican Republic only made his Major League debut connected Friday but has tested affirmative for clomiphene, a fertility supplier connected MLB's banned performance-enhancing narcotics list.

Martinez said successful a connection he was prescribed Rejun 50, which contains clomiphene, by a fertility session successful his homeland aft trying unsuccessfully since 2020 to commencement a family pinch his girlfriend.

"In my effort to commencement a family, I made a mistake," he said successful a statement.

"With that said, I took afloat work for my negligence and accepted my suspension."

Martinez signed pinch nan Blue Jays successful 2018 for $3.5m (£2.8m) and established himself arsenic 1 of nan champion power-hitting prospects successful nan insignificant leagues.

"We were some amazed and disappointed to study of Orelvis Martinez's suspension," said Blue Jays executive vice president and wide head Ross Atkins.

"We will do everything successful our powerfulness to guarantee Orelvis has learned from his mistake. Orelvis has our support and we cognize he will get done this."

Martinez will beryllium eligible to return successful September for Toronto, who are past successful nan American League East section pinch 35 wins and 41 losses.