ESPN reports Braves’ Jurickson Profar faces 162-game ban for second positive PED test, which could have significant implications for the team's performance this season. The designated hitter is expected to forfeit his $15 million salary and will leave a hole in the Braves’ lineup. Profar, who was suspended last year for 80 games after testing positive for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), is now facing a season-long ban for a second positive test. The 33-year-old Profar, who has been the team’s primary designated hitter this season, will be ineligible for the postseason and cannot play for the Netherlands in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. The Braves' new manager, Walt Weiss, praised Profar's leadership and willingness to take on the DH role, but the suspension will undoubtedly impact the team's dynamics and performance. The hCG drug, primarily used by women as a fertility medication, can also be used by male athletes to stimulate testosterone production. Profar's positive test results have raised questions about the effectiveness of the league's drug testing program and the potential risks associated with performance-enhancing drugs. The Braves issued a statement expressing disappointment and hope that Profar will learn from this experience, while Profar himself has maintained his innocence, stating that he did not take the drug knowingly. This developing story highlights the ongoing challenges and controversies surrounding performance-enhancing drugs in professional sports.
