Top MLB prospect handed 80-game suspension following positive PED test just days after his Blue Jays debut

Blue Jays prospect Orelvis Martinez has been slapped with an 80-game suspension after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance. 

The 22-year-old, who made his MLB debut last Friday, had Clomiphene in his system, which he claims was prescribed to him by a fertility doctor in the Dominican Republic. 

The infielder said he and his girlfriend have been attempting to start a family, so he was given Rejun 50 - a medication containing the PED - while in the Caribbean during the offseason. 


'For the past two years, I have been trying to start a family with my girlfriend. During the offseason, we visited a fertility clinic in the Dominican Republic and after getting lab work done, we were prescribed a treatment, which included a medication called Rejun 50,' Martínez said in a statement Sunday. 

'Unfortunately, Rejun 50 contains a banned substance called Clomiphene. We wanted to keep this matter private, even within our family, and trusted the doctor who assured us this treatment did not include performance-enhancing drugs,' he went on. 

Blue Jays prospect Orelvis Martinez has been handed an 80-game suspension

He tested positive for banned substance Clomiphene after making his MLB debut last Friday 

'Therefore, I made the mistake of not disclosing this to my team or the MLBPA. With that said, I took full responsibility for my actions and accepted my suspension.' 

Martínez inked a deal with Toronto in July 2018 for a $3.51 million bonus and has been climbing his way up the minor league system over the past six years. 

In his last season at Triple-A Buffalo, he hit .260 with 16 homers, 46 RBIs and an .867 OPS in 63 games. 

General Manager Ross Atkins later released a statement backing the MLB's joint drug prevention and treatment program.

'The Blue Jays fully support Major League Baseball´s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, and strongly believe in keeping the game on a level playing field,' he said Sunday. 

'We were both surprised and disappointed to learn of Orelvis Martínez suspension. We will do everything in our power to ensure Orelvis has learned from this mistake.'

Martínez, who said he will 'learn from this experience and come back to the field in September,' will lose about half his salary. 

Martínez said he will 'learn from this experience and come back to the field in September'