Trending Now - Johan Rojas of Phillies Receives 80-game Ban for PED Use
WHO:
Johan Rojas, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder
Major League Baseball (MLB)
Martin F. Scheinman, independent arbitrator
Philadelphia Phillies organization
WHAT:
Rojas was removed from the Dominican Republic's World Baseball Classic roster due to his suspension.
Rojas hit .167 over 24 spring training at-bats prior to his suspension.
Rojas is the sixth player disciplined in 2026 for a drug violation, and the third under the major league agreement.
Atlanta outfielder Jurickson Profar was suspended for the entire 2026 season on March 3rd, 2026, after testing positive for exogenous testosterone, marking his second offense under the drug rules.
Free agent outfielder Max Kepler was banned for 80 games on January 9th, 2026, after a positive test for Epitrenbolone.
Johan Rojas was suspended for 80 games without pay.
The suspension was due to a positive test for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance.
Rojas will lose $395,305 in salary during the suspension.
Rojas batted .224 with one home run, 18 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases in the previous season.
Rojas has a career batting average of .252 with six home runs, 73 RBIs, and 51 stolen bases over 250 games.
Rojas was demoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on August 1st, 2025.
Rojas was 3-for-15 with one RBI during spring training in 2026.
Rojas is ineligible to participate in the 2026 postseason.
Rojas was slated to play for the Dominican Republic's World Baseball Classic roster but was dropped ahead of the tournament.
WHERE:
Clearwater, Florida (Phillies camp location)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (team location)
Triple-A Lehigh Valley (Rojas' demotion location)
WHEN:
The suspension was announced on March 16th, 2026.
The suspension will begin at the start of the 2026 regular season.
Rojas would be eligible to play on June 25th, 2026, barring rainouts.
Rojas was demoted on August 1st, 2025.
WHY:
The suspension was a result of a violation of MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
HOW:
Rojas' appeal against the suspension was denied by independent arbitrator Martin F. Scheinman.
Rojas tested positive for Boldenone, leading to the suspension.
The players' association filed a grievance against the suspension, which was denied by the arbitrator.
(UPDATED March 17, 2026 05:26 UTC)
In a significant development, Rojas has been removed from the Dominican Republic's World Baseball Classic roster following his suspension for a drug violation, marking him as the sixth player disciplined this year. His performance during spring training was less than stellar, hitting just .167 over 24 at-bats, and his appeal against the suspension was denied by independent arbitrator Martin F. Scheinman. This comes on the heels of Atlanta outfielder Jurickson Profar being suspended for the entire 2026 season after testing positive for exogenous testosterone earlier this month.
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(UPDATED March 17, 2026 01:34 UTC)
Johan Rojas, the Philadelphia Phillies outfielder, has been suspended for 80 games without pay after testing positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance, with the announcement coming on March 16, 2026. This suspension, which will begin at the start of the 2026 regular season, means Rojas will lose $395,305 in salary and will be ineligible to participate in the postseason, as well as being dropped from the Dominican Republic's World Baseball Classic roster. Rojas, who batted .224 with one home run and 18 RBIs last season, has a career batting average of .252 over 250 games and was recently demoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.