Astros pitcher Martes suspended for 80 games for drug test

By: The Associated Press Posted:

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NEW YORK - Injured Houston Astros pitcher Francis Martes has been suspended for 80 games following a positive test for the banned performance-enhancing drug Clomiphene.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/03/2019 (2726 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NEW YORK – Injured Houston Astros pitcher Francis Martes has been suspended for 80 games following a positive test for the banned performance-enhancing drug Clomiphene.

The anti-estrogen substance is used in fertility treatments and is employed by men to accelerate testosterone production. It is taken along with steroids to inhibit estrogen problems.

Houston says in a statement “we hope that Francis can learn from this experience and that he returns to have a successful career.”

FILE - In this June 9, 2017, file photo, Houston Astros pitcher Francis Martes waits to warm up before a baseball against the Los Angeles Angeles in Houston. Martes has been suspended for 80 games following a positive test for the banned performance-enhancing drug Clomiphene, the league announced Tuesday, March 1, 2019. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
FILE - In this June 9, 2017, file photo, Houston Astros pitcher Francis Martes waits to warm up before a baseball against the Los Angeles Angeles in Houston. Martes has been suspended for 80 games following a positive test for the banned performance-enhancing drug Clomiphene, the league announced Tuesday, March 1, 2019. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

A 23-year-old right-hander, Martes was considered the Astros’ top prospect entering 2017 and made his major league debut that June. He was 5-2 with a 5.80 ERA in four starts and 28 relief appearances for the Astros, striking out 69 and walking 31 in 54 1/3 innings.

He made four starts last April for Triple-A Fresno, hurt his elbow, and made a one-inning injury rehabilitation appearance for the Gulf Coast Astros on Aug. 2. He had Tommy John surgery on Aug. 15 and was expected to miss most or all of this season.

Martes’ suspension, announced Tuesday, was the second this year under the major league drug program after Kansas City pitcher Eric Skoglund. Nine players have been suspended this year under the minor league program.

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For more AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/apf-Baseball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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