Mariners’ Robinson Cano suspended 80 games for violating drug policy
May 15, 2018, 11:07 AM | Updated: 6:54 pm
Mariners All-Star Robinson Cano has been suspended 80 games. (AP)
(AP)
Mariners All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano has been suspended 80 games for violating baseball’s joint drug agreement, Major League Baseball announced Tuesday morning.
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The news was first reported by Dominican journalist Hector Gomez and confirmed through a source by Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and The Athletic.
Cano’s suspension is for the use of Furosemide, a diuretic, which is seen as a masking agent for performance-enhancing drugs. The suspension is effective immediately and prevents him from playing in the postseason this year if Seattle makes the playoffs. Cano will lose his salary for the 80 games, covering over $11 million, reports MLB Network insider Jon Heyman.
The return date for Cano after his suspension is Aug. 14.
T.J. Quinn of ESPN tweeted that players aren’t automatically suspended if they are found to have used diuretics, and that a suspension comes after MLB was able to prove it was used to mask the use of another drug.
IMPORTANT ON CANO: players are NOT automatically suspended for using diuretics. The suspension means MLB was able to prove he was using it to mask a drug. Cano tested positive before the season, appealed and dropped the appeal. https://t.co/3l47Mkya46
— T.J. Quinn (@TJQuinnESPN) May 15, 2018
Cano has released a statement through his Twitter account accepting the suspension, though he wrote that he was given the substance by a licensed doctor in the Domincan Republic to treat a medical ailment.
— Robinson Cano (@RobinsonCano) May 15, 2018
The Mariners have released their own statement:
“We were disappointed to learn today that Robinson had violated the terms Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Our organization fully supports the Program.
“Robinson made a mistake. He has explained to us what happened, accepted the punishment and has apologized to the fans, the organization and his teammates. We will support Robinson as he works through this challenge.”
Cano is currently out of action with a broken right pinky, suffered when he was hit by a pitch in a game Sunday in Detroit.
The 35-year-old Cano is hitting .287 with four home runs, 23 RBIs and an .826 OPS in 39 games this season. He came to Seattle prior to the 2014 season on a 10-year, $240 million deal. He is an eight-time All-Star, including in three of his first four seasons with Seattle, and is the reigning All-Star Game MVP.
Cano isn’t the only notable Mariners player to be suspended for violating the MLB drug policy. Nelson Cruz and Dee Gordon have also served suspensions while with previous teams.
