Fernando Tatis Jr. apologizes for testing positive for PEDs as he gives his first press conference since being banned for 80 games: ‘I’m truly sorry, I have let so many people down. i’ve failed
- Fernando Tatis Jr. addressed the media about his suspension Tuesday night
- The MLB superstar was remorseful and terse as he said sorry for PEDs use
- Tatis was banned earlier this month after testing positive for Clostebol
- He said he’d been dealing with ringworm and inadvertently used a banned steroid
Banned MLB star Fernando Tatis Jr. said sorry for taking PEDs in his first press conference since being hit with an 80-game suspension.
Tatis was banned earlier this month after testing positive for Clostebol, a performance-enhancing anabolic steroid.
He decided to speak out about his actions Tuesday and apologized when he addressed the media.
Banned MLB star Fernando Tatis Jr. said sorry for taking PEDs in press conference Tuesday
Tatis Jr. was handed an 80-game ban by Major League Baseball for violating drug policy
‘I’m truly sorry. I’m really sorry,’ Tatis said. ‘I have let so many people down. I have lost so much love from people. I have failed.
‘I failed the front office, the San Diego Padres, (owner) Peter Seidler, AJ Preller. I have failed the fans of this city, I have failed my country, I have failed my family, parents. I’m really sorry for my mistakes.
‘I have seen how my dreams have turned into my worst nightmares… There is no one else to blame but myself.’
Tatis was remorseful and terse while facing reporters with general manager AJ Preller to his left hours before the Padres hosted the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night.
Tatis’ suspension was announced by Major League Baseball on August 12 and Clostebol was identified as the illegal substance. Tatis said he had been dealing with ringworm and inadvertently used a banned substance.
Tatis played in a career-high 130 games in 2021, his third major league season, and led the National League with 42 home runs. He batted .282 with 97 RBIs and 25 steals and was third in National League MVP voting.
The Dominican will not be paid by the team while serving the MLB enforced suspension
In 273 career games, Tatis has a .292 batting average with 81 home runs and 195 RBIs. He was a first-time All-Star in 2021 after finishing fourth in NL MVP voting during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, and he signed a 14-year, $330 million contract with the Padres during spring training last year.
Tatis Jr.’s father blamed his use of steroids on a bad haircut which left him with a ‘fungus’ that needed treating with a spray.
‘What involves him (Tatis Jr.) is a steroid that contains a spray called trophobol… He got a fungus due to a haircut,’ Sr. said, via Hector Gomez.
‘His mistake was not reading what it contains, which is what apparently makes him guilty of something totally unknown.
‘It was a mistake that could have been handled differently, destroying the image of a player for such a small thing, for a situation like this.
Tatis Jr. also said he will undergo surgery on his left shoulder during the suspension
‘Is a catastrophe not just for Tatis Jr, but for all baseball. There’s millions of fans that will stop watching baseball.
‘All of this has happened because of something that is not worth this issue. This is something for the skin, that’s something that’s not performance enhancing and has no testosterone. It has nothing to help you improve in the game.’
Tatis also said he will undergo surgery on his left shoulder during the suspension. Part of the reason why he and the team were at odds was due to him declining to go under the knife following last season.
Making matters worse was the December motorcycle accident in the Dominican Republic. Tatis allegedly broke his left wrist in the incident but the Padres were unaware of the break until he reported to spring training in March.
Tatis, 23, underwent surgery on his broken left wrist in March and has not played this season. He said Tuesday that he should not have gotten on the motorcycle.
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