Atlanta Braves’ Jurickson Profar suspended for 2026 season following second positive drug test

NEW YORK (AP) — Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar was suspended for the 2026 season by Major League Baseball on Tuesday following his second positive test for a performance-enhancing drug.

Profar tested positive for exogenous testosterone and its metabolites, the commissioner’s office said, which means testosterone that was not produced by his body. Because it was a second offense, the length of Profar’s suspension was 162 games.

The players’ association filed a grievance at Profar’s request to appeal to baseball’s independent arbitrator, Martin F. Scheinman, a person familiar with the process told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity, because no announcement had been made.

An All-Star in 2024, Profar was suspended for 80 games last March 31 following a positive test for Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG), a hormone that helps production of testosterone. He issued a statement then saying: “I would never willingly take a banned substance, but I take full responsibility and accept MLB’s decision.”

His agent, Dan Lozano, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Profar homered in his return from suspension on July 2 and finished with a .245 average, 14 homers, 43 RBIs and a .7...