**Max Kepler Suspended for 80 Games Due to Positive PED Test**
**Meta Description:** MLB outfielder Max Kepler faces an 80-game suspension after testing positive for a banned substance, epitrenbolone, impacting his career.
**URL Slug:** max-kepler-suspended-ped-test
**Max Kepler Suspended for 80 Games Due to Positive PED Test**
Major League Baseball (MLB) has announced that free agent outfielder Max Kepler has been suspended for 80 games following a positive test for a prohibited performance-enhancing substance. The 32-year-old athlete tested positive for epitrenbolone, a metabolite of trenbolone, which is commonly found in bodybuilding products and has been used in livestock growth promotion.
Kepler, who began his professional career with the Minnesota Twins after signing at the age of 16 in 2009, played ten seasons with the team. Last year, he signed a one-year contract worth $10 million with the Philadelphia Phillies. However, his performance during the previous season was below expectations, as he recorded a batting average of .216, with 18 home runs and 52 RBIs over 127 games. Throughout his 11-year career, Kepler has maintained a .225 batting average, accumulating 179 home runs and 560 RBIs.
This suspension marks a significant moment in MLB history, as Kepler is the first player to be penalized for this specific substance since the league began publicly announcing suspension details in 2005. He accepted the suspension without contesting it through a grievance process.
Epitrenbolone has previously been associated with other sports figures, including boxer Manuel Charr, who faced a suspension in 2018. Additionally, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency disqualified 90-year-old cyclist Carl Grove from a world record due to a positive test for the same substance.
In the previous year, 14 players were suspended for positive tests, including two under the major league program. Notably, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar and Phillies closer José Alvarado both received 80-game suspensions earlier this year.
Even if Kepler does not secure a contract by the start of the season in March, MLB and the players’ union typically allow suspended free agents to serve their penalties while actively seeking new team agreements.
**FAQ**
**Q: What substance led to Max Kepler’s suspension?**
A: Max Kepler was suspended for testing positive for epitrenbolone, a banned performance-enhancing substance.
