Mariners' Robinson Cano Gets 80-Game Suspension For Steroids

Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano was suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball after testing positive for a banned substance. He will also be banned from the postseason if the Mariners earn a playoff spot. Cano tested positive for the diuretic Furosemide which can be used to mask the presence of performance-enhancing drugs. 

Cano released a statement saying that the Furosemide "was given to me by a licensed doctor in the Dominican Republic to treat a medical ailment."

“Furosemide is used to treat various medical conditions in the United States and the Dominican Republic,” Cano said in a statement. “This substance was given to me by a licensed doctor in the Dominican Republic to treat a medical ailment. While I did not realize at the time that I was given a medication that was banned, I obviously now wish that I had been more careful.”

In 39 games this season Cano is hitting .287 with four home runs and 23 runs batted in. He is currently five years into a 10-year, $240 million contract that runs through 2023. 

The news comes two days after Cano broke his right hand when he was hit by a pitch from Detroit Tigers pitcher Blaine Hardy. Cano had not missed a game this season and had played in at least 150 games in 11 consecutive seasons. 

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