It was announced that San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. had tested positive for PEDs and would miss the rest of the season. The news was stunning and saddening to the Padres and the entire baseball world. That includes Tatis.
Tatis released a statement (per Alden Gonzalez, ESPN) explaining what happened and apologizing to Padres owner Peter Seidler, president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller and everyone else affected.
“It turns out that I inadvertently took a medication to treat ringworm that contained Clostebol,” the statement said, in part. “I should have used the resources available to me in order to ensure that no banned substances were in what I took. I failed to do so. I want to apologize to Peter, AJ, the entire Padres organization, my teammates, Major League Baseball, and fans everywhere for my mistake. I have no excuse for my error, and I would never do anything to cheat or disrespect the game I love.”
Statement from Fernando Tatis Jr., who said he took a medication containing Clostebol to treat ringworm. … pic.twitter.com/dPEFiQnqUk
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) August 12, 2022
There was some support for Tatis following his statement — but not much.
By and large, baseball fans were less than sympathetic to Tatis and did not buy his explanation.
I don’t buy this. Tinea is ringworm. Tinea cruris is “jock itch.” Tinea pedis is “athlete’s foot.”
You mean to tell me a doctor treating an MLB player for ringworm wouldn’t know to avoid a med that would cause a pos result?!
He treats athlete’s foot and jock itch on the reg.. https://t.co/llaMROQeoo
— Bee (@501queenbee) August 12, 2022
they have sooo many tools it doesnt take much to send the team DR a medication so that they can examine it. theres no excuse tbh https://t.co/DdtP2GBmXp
— JoezMcfly🇩🇴 (@JoezMcfLy) August 12, 2022
Clostebol to treat Ringworms? Right https://t.co/xMj8lEWZsz
— Brian DeSean (@Brian_s20) August 12, 2022
Ringworm???? I've heard it all now folks https://t.co/hCQQkXlPQH
— Eric Sklar (@TheDukeOfSports) August 12, 2022
The problem here for Tatis is that so many athletes who test positive for PEDs say similar things. If it’s not regarding a medication used to treat an illness, it’s something to the effect of “I unknowingly put this into my body.” So, even in situations where it might be the case, fans are just not interested in hearing it. It’s such a typical explanation that it falls on deaf ears.
[Alden Gonzalez on Twitter]
