Braves’ Jurickson Profar Faces 162-Game Ban Following Positive Drug Test

Jurickson Profar has once again derailed his career and the Atlanta Braves’ season after testing positive for a banned substance, resulting in a 162-game suspension for the 2026 season. This news was first reported by ESPN on March 3. The 33-year-old outfielder was set to enter the first year of a lucrative three-year, $42 million contract when he received his suspension on March 31 due to a positive test for a fertility drug deemed a performance-enhancing substance.

Profar had previously faced an 80-game suspension, returning to the field on July 2, where he managed to hit 14 home runs and posted a .787 OPS over the final 80 games of the season. However, this latest suspension will prove significantly more costly for him.

As a consequence of this ban, Profar will forfeit his entire 2026 salary of $15 million, bringing his total loss from two positive tests to an astounding $18 million over two seasons. In addition, he will be ineligible to represent the Netherlands in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

Entering his 13th major league season after debuting at just 19 years old in 2012, Profar had recently achieved his first All-Star selection in 2024 while playing for the San Diego Padres. That season, he set personal bests with 24 home runs and an OPS of .839, which led the Braves to sign him as their left fielder for the 2025 season. Now, however, he will not step onto the Truist Field diamond until 2027.

Profar’s situation places him among a select group of players who have received a suspension of at least 162 games under MLB’s drug policy. Notably, Robinson Cano’s career was similarly impacted by multiple suspensions, which derailed what many considered a Hall of Fame trajectory for the star infielder.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.