NEW YORK — Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Josh Ravin was suspended Monday for 80 games following a positive test under Major League Baseball’s drug program.
Ravin is the eighth player suspended this year under the big league program and the fourth in three weeks. He tested positive for Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide 2 (GHRP-2), the commissioner’s office said.
Ravin blamed the positive test on a supplement he took during spring training after a bout with intestinal flu and strep throat caused him to lose 20 pounds in about a week.
"To try and speed up my recovery, I took some supplements that I thought would help," he said in a statement. "Unfortunately, I was not as careful as I should have been and one of the supplements contained a banned substance.
"I later learned that the substance showed up in a regular drug test done of me during 2016 spring training. This has been a very painful lesson for me. I have always tried to avoid doing anything in violation of the system and I take full responsibility for the consequences of my actions and my bad judgment."
A 28-year-old right-hander, Ravin has been on the disabled list since the start of the season because of a broken left forearm. He was 2-1 with a 6.75 ERA last year in nine relief appearances with the Dodgers in his first major league action. He spent most of the season at Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Ravin will lose $225,137 from his $515,000 salary. The Dodgers said in a statement the team was disappointed.
Miami second baseman Dee Gordon, the defending NL batting champion, was suspended for 80 games last week.
Earlier this year, New York Mets reliever Jenrry Mejia received a permanent ban following a third positive test, and Cleveland outfielder Abraham Almonte, Cincinnati outfielder Juan Duran, free-agent catcher Taylor Teagarden, Philadelphia pitcher Daniel Stumpf and Toronto first baseman Chris Colabello were suspended for 80 games each.
