German professional baseball player Max Kepler has been suspended for 80 games by the MLB for doping.
The 32-year-old, who is currently looking for a new club as a free agent, tested positive for epitrenbolone, a breakdown product of the anabolic steroid trenbolone. The North American professional league announced this on Friday.
Kepler reached the playoffs last season with the Philadelphia Phillies, but was eliminated in the first round by the eventual champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
After his contract expired, he has not yet found a new employer for the season that begins in April. That should now become more difficult: Kepler would not only be missing in almost half of the main round games, but would also not be eligible to play in possible playoff games.