Raul Mondesi Jr. suspended 50 games for PEDs found in cold medicine
Top Royals prospect Raul Mondesi Jr. has been suspended 50 games after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. The substance was in cold medication he was taking.
By
Mike Axisa
•
1 min read
Royals prospect Raul Mondesi Jr. has been suspended 50 games after testing positive for Clenbuterol, a performance-enhancing drug, MLB announced Tuesday. The suspension is effective immediately.
Mondesi, 20, is on Kansas City's 40-man roster, though he is currently in Double-A. His suspension was reduced from 80 games to 50 games because he showed Clenbuterol can be found in cold medicine.
Mondesi failed a PED test but MLB and MLBPA reached agreement to drop from 80 to 50 Gs after he showed substance in cold medicine #Royals
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) May 10, 2016
Not all banned substances are eligible to have the suspensions reduced. Clenbuterol is one of the substances covered, however. Here is the statement Mondesi released after the suspension was announced:
"I took an over-the-counter medication [Subrox-C], which I bought in the Dominican Republic to treat cold and flu symptoms. I failed to read the labeling on the medication or consult with my trainer or team about taking it and did not know it contained a banned substance. I tested positive for that banned substance, with a minuscule amount of Clenbuterol in my system, which could not have possibly enhanced my performance on the field, and now must face the consequences of that mistake.
"I apologize to my organization, my teammates, the fans and everyone who has supported me in my career. Never did I intend to take a substance that would give me an unfair advantage on the field. It is solely my mistake and there are no excuses for my carelessness in not being fully informed of what I put in my body. My goal is to work through this setback and make it back in time to help my organization compete for another World Series title."
Last fall Mondesi became the first player in history to make his MLB debut in the World Series. The Royals added him to their World Series because they wanted to carry an extra infielder in case Ben Zobrist had to leave the team to be with his wife, who was due to give birth.
MLB.com ranked Mondesi as the top prospect in Kansas City's system prior to the season. "Mondesi still can be a first-division regular without providing a ton of offense," said the write-up, which notes his Gold Glove caliber defense at shortstop.
Mondesi is hitting .250/.304/.462 with five home runs and 11 steals so far this season.
