Milwaukee Brewers catcher Pedro Severino has been suspended 80 games without pay for taking a performance-enhancing drug he says he took to treat infertility issues.
Major League Baseball said it took clomiphene. The drug is approved by the FDA for the treatment of infertility in women, but not in men.
Severino, 28, issued a statement through the players' union admitting he had taken the drug.
"Since the end of 2020, my wife and I have been trying unsuccessfully to start a family," he said. “When we returned to the Dominican Republic after the 2021 season, we sought medical help to determine why we were not successful. One of the doctors I consulted gave me a drug to treat infertility issues. Unfortunately, I now know that the drug clomiphene is involved."
He further said that he accepts the responsibility and will not challenge the suspension.
"In my attempt to start a family, I made a mistake," he said.
Severino apologized to the Brewers organization and its associates.
He signed with the team as a free agent in November. He has played over six seasons in the major leagues with the Nationals and Orioles. Last season with Baltimore was one of his best. In career-high 419 plate appearances, he had 11 homers and 46 RBIs.