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According to a report from the Washington Nationals this afternoon, Major League Baseball has announced an 80-game suspension for Nationals’ catcher Raudy Read, who violated MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
Nats’ GM Mike Rizzo issued a statement on the news via the Nationals’ PR department.
“Earlier today,” Rizzo is quoted as saying in the statement, “Major League Baseball announced that Raudy Read has received an 80-game suspension without pay for violating the league’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. This is a very serious matter – one that I do not take lightly. We educate players across our system on the program and set the expectation that they fully abide by it. I am deeply disappointed in Raudy. I have spoken with him directly and he understands that he is ultimately responsible for what he puts into his body. In the end, I hope he learns from this experience.”
Read, 24, made his major league debut late last season, playing eight games with the Nationals after posting a .265/.312/.455 line, 25 doubles, and 17 home runs over 108 games and 442 plate appearances at Double-A Harrisburg in Washington’s system.
Nats’ GM Mike Rizzo has talked about Read this winter as part of the catching depth that could back Matt Wieters up in 2018.
Washington Post writer Chelsea Janes reported on Twitter that Read, through the MLB Players’ Association, released a statement on the positive test, explaining that he isn’t sure why he did test positive.
In a statement through MLBPA, Read says he doesn’t know how he tested positive. pic.twitter.com/XunqFcE297
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) February 7, 2018
Read was ranked as the top catching prospect in the organization by both Baseball America (No. 9 overall on BA’s list of the Nationals’ top prospects) and MLB Pipeline’s scouts (No. 14).
#Nats catcher Raudy Read has been suspended 80 games by MLB after testing positive for Boldenone.
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) February 7, 2018
Boldenone - “Boldenone, which is also known by its trade name Equipoise, is an anabolic androgenic steroid developed for veterinary use and is most commonly used to treat horses.” - LINK
MASN’s Mark Zuckerman noted on Twitter that Read is actually the first player on the Nationals’ 40-Man roster to test positive for a PED since 2005.
Raudy Read becomes the first player on the #Nats 40-man roster to be suspended for a positive PED test since the program began in 2005. They were 1 of only 5 MLB clubs that hadn't had a suspension.
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) February 7, 2018