In the last couple of weeks multiple players have been suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball for failed drug tests. Most notably were Chris Collabello of the Toronto Blue Jays and former Los Angeles Dodgers and current Miami Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon.
The most recent suspension though was given to Dodgers reliever Josh Ravin, who was suspended for taking a synthetic performance-enhancing drug designed to trigger the body’s production of human growth hormone that he claims to have ingested while recovering from an intestinal flu and strep throat.
Ravin missed the first few week of Spring Training due to being under the weather, which led to significant weight loss. He then fractured his left forearm in an auto accident in early March, abruptly ending his spring.
According to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times, fellow Dodgers reliever J.P. Howell said he hopes the team gets an explanation from Ravin as to why he took the PED:
J.P. Howell said he hopes fellow Dodgers reliever Josh Ravin will explain his failed drug test to the team… “You want your name to be clean with your teammates first,” Howell said. “In this day and age, players aren’t happy with failed tests. It has no part in the game.”… “No excuses,” Howell said. “If you’re honest, I respect it. I know what I’m putting in my body at all times.”
Ravin made his Major League debut last season, pitching 9.1 innings, giving up 13 hits and seven runs while striking out 12 and walking four. The right-hander has an electric fastball that often approaches 100 miles per hour, but has been plagued by command issues.
Ravin was shutdown last September due to sports hernia surgery, though he recovered fully from the injury. He’s eligible to be reinstated on Wednesday, Aug. 3.
