Robinson Cano suspended 80 games for violating PED policy

Robinson Cano, eight-time all-star and two-time Gold Glove winner, has been suspended 80 games for testing positive for Furosemide, a diuretic often used to mask performance-enhancing drug use.

Hector Gomez of Z Deportes in the Dominican Republic was the first to tweet out the news, and Ken Rosenthal later confirmed Cano would be suspended for 80 games for a first-time violation of MLB’s drug policy. Cano was the subject of PED rumors previously following a 2012 report from a North Carolina TV reporter that was later retracted.

Cano currently holds the active-player record for most consecutive seasons playing 150 games or more, at 11 straight years, with current teammate Kyle Seager the next closest at only six years. Cano was recently put on the 10-day DL with a hand injury, putting the streak in jeopardy, and the suspension guarantees it will end. However, he can start serving the suspension immediately, even while on the disabled list.

Cano released a statement claiming he took the drug without knowing it was banned under the collective bargaining agreement:

The 35-year old is in the middle of a massive 10-year, $240 million contract with the Mariners that runs through 2023. His offensive stats this year are currently in line with his 2017 numbers, with a .287/.385/.441 slash line and an .825 OPS and 23 RBI through 39 games.