Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar has been suspended 162 games for a violation of Major League Baseball’s performance-enhancing drug (PED) policy, ruling him out for the entire 2026 season. The suspension follows the resolution of Profar’s appeal of a positive test for a banned substance under MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
The ruling means Profar will be unavailable to the Braves for all regular-season games in 2026. A 162-game suspension is equivalent to a full MLB regular season, underscoring the severity of the penalty within the league’s discipline structure for PED-related violations.
Profar’s positive test triggered the league’s standard process, which includes notification, an opportunity for the player to review the findings, and the right to appeal the decision before an independent arbitrator. That process has now concluded, and the suspension is officially in effect. Details about the specific substance involved or the arguments made during the appeal were not disclosed.
Under the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, players who test positive for banned performance-enhancing substances face progressive discipline, with lengthy suspensions serving as a deterrent and as a statement of MLB’s policy on maintaining competitive integrity. A 162-game ban is among the strongest punishments available under the current agreement.
For Atlanta, Profar’s absence removes an experienced outfield option from the roster for the duration of the 2026 campaign. The Braves will need to rely on their remaining depth and internal options to cover the innings and production that had been projected for Profar. Any potential roster moves the club might make in response were not immediately known.
The suspension applies only to regular-season contests. Profar will not be eligible to play until the conclusion of the 162-game term, and his return would be contingent on completion of the full suspension and compliance with any conditions laid out in MLB’s drug program. No further details about Profar’s status or next steps were made available at the time of the announcement.
