Jurickson Profar PED suspension: When will Atlanta Braves star return? Contract details

Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar tested positive for a banned substance and has been suspended for 80 games

Updated on: Apr 1, 2025, 04:14:24 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar tested positive for a banned substance and has been suspended for 80 games, MLB announced on Monday. The 32-year-old tested positive for chorionic gonadotropin, a performance-enhancing drug.

Jurickson Profar is facing an 80-game PED suspension (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

The star player's suspension comes after the Braves were swept in a four-game series by the San Diego Padres while scoring a combined seven runs. With Ronald Acuna Jr not expected come off the injury list for another month, Atlanta is likely to use Jered Kelenic and Bryan de La Cruz. They could also turn to Alex Verdugo, who was signed to a $1.5 million deal on March 20.

In a statement, the Braves said: “We were surprised and extremely disappointed to learn that Jurickson Profar tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance in violation of Major League Baseball's Joint Prevention and Treatment Program. We fully support the Program and are hopeful that Jurickson will learn from this experience.”

When will Jurickson Profar return?

Profar faces an 80-game suspension, standard for a first-time PED offense in MLB. The regular season started on March 27, 2025. A full MLB season comprises 162 games, typically spanning late March to late September. This means the outfielder will miss roughly half the season.

Jurickson Profar's contract details

Profar signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Atlanta Braves in January this year.

Salary Breakdown:

2025: $12 million.

2026: $15 million.

2027: $15 million.

What is Human chorionic gonadotropin?

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced mainly during pregnancy by the placenta to sustain the fetus by signaling progesterone production. It’s also used medically to boost fertility, triggering ovulation in women and testosterone in men. Beyond reproduction, it’s linked to rare tumors and misused in sports for performance enhancement, leading to bans, like Jurickson Profar’s recent MLB suspension.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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