Braves' Jurickson Profar suspended 162 games for PEDs, missing 2026 season, conflicting reports

Jurickson Profar has been suspended for the entire 2026 MLB season, marking the second time the Atlanta Braves outfielder has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs within a 12-month period.

“The Atlanta Braves will be without Jurickson Profar for the entire 2026 season after the outfielder’s appeal of a positive PED test was resolved, resulting in a 162-game suspension”

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Major League Baseball officially announced the 162-game suspension on March 3, 2026, after Profar's appeal of a positive test for exogenous testosterone and its metabolites was resolved.

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This represents the most severe penalty under MLB's drug testing policy, which mandates a full-season ban for players who test positive for a second time.

The suspension comes just months after Profar served an 80-game suspension in 2025 for testing positive for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone that aids testosterone production.

The timing and severity of the suspension have created significant uncertainty around Profar's future with the Braves organization.

The financial implications of Profar's suspension are substantial, as the veteran outfielder will forfeit his entire $15 million salary for the 2026 season.

This comes just one year after the Braves signed Profar to a lucrative three-year, $42 million contract in January 2025 following his career-best season with the San Diego Padres.

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The contract represented a significant investment in a player who had emerged as an All-Star in 2024 and was expected to be a key contributor to Atlanta's lineup.

The suspension creates a significant financial dilemma for the Braves organization, as they now face the prospect of paying a player who will not contribute on the field while needing to find replacement options.

The team signed Profar with the expectation that he would rotate regularly in Atlanta's starting lineup between the outfield and designated hitter, potentially serving as the No. 2 hitter behind Ronald Acuña Jr.

Profar's suspension represents a significant loss of offensive production and veteran experience for the Braves lineup.

“Atlanta Bravesdesignated hitterJurickson Profarwill officially have to forfeit his $15 million salary for 2026 while serving out a season-long suspension after his appeal of a second performance-enhancing drug violation was recently resolved,according to ESPN”

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Prior to the suspension, Profar was coming off a 2025 season in which he hit .245 with 14 home runs, 43 RBIs, and a .787 OPS across 318 at-bats, while adding nine stolen bases.

His performance after returning from his 80-game suspension in 2025 was particularly notable, as he hit .245/.353/.434 with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs while playing left field.

During 2026 spring training, Profar had shown early signs of consistency, posting a .300 average and .733 OPS in limited action before the suspension was announced.

Over his MLB career, Profar has established himself as a valuable depth piece with a .245 average, 125 home runs, and a .731 OPS in over 4,000 at-bats, known for his ability to contribute offensively while providing lineup flexibility.

The Braves organization has responded to Profar's suspension with a mixture of disappointment and practical adaptation.

Braves first-year manager Walt Weiss had reacted boldly to Profar's season-long PED suspension before it was officially confirmed, offering a firm stance on the situation.

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After the suspension was finalized, Weiss indicated that he expects Atlanta's designated hitter spot to be 'fairly fluid' this season without Profar's consistent presence.

The team now faces the challenge of compensating for the lost production from one of its experienced contributors, particularly as they look to remain competitive throughout the season.

With Profar unavailable for the entire season, Atlanta will need to rely on internal options or explore external moves to reinforce the outfield, adding pressure on the roster to perform without one of its key offensive pieces.

Profar's suspension places him among a select group of players who have received the maximum penalty under MLB's enhanced drug testing policy.

“The Atlanta Braves will be without Jurickson Profar for the entire 2026 season after the outfielder’s appeal of a positive PED test was resolved, resulting in a 162-game suspension”

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According to ESPN, Profar is the sixth player to receive a 162-game ban for PED use since MLB increased the penalty for two-time offenders to a full season in 2014.

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The policy change represented MLB's tough stance on repeat offenders, with the 162-game suspension being equivalent to an entire season's worth of games.

Profar's case follows a pattern of players who have tested positive multiple times within short timeframes, raising questions about the effectiveness of MLB's drug testing program.

The timing of Profar's suspensions—first in March 2025 and again in March 2026—suggests he may not have completed proper rehabilitation or education programs between incidents.