Jurickson Profar's 162-Game MLB Suspension Upheld After Appeal, Braves Star Ineligible for Playoffs

Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar will miss the entire 2026 MLB season after his appeal for a failed performance-enhancing drug test was denied.

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, Profar will serve a 162-game suspension and is ineligible for the postseason after appeal.

MLB originally announced Profar's suspension for violating the league's joint drug prevention and treatment program on March 3. He tested positive exogenous testosterone and its metabolites.

This was the second time in less than one year that Profar failed a PED test. He was suspended for 80 games in March 2025 after testing positive for Chorionic Gonadotropin.

The Braves signed Profar to a three-year, $42 million contract in January 2025. He was coming off the best year of his career in 2024 with a .280/.380/.459 slash line for the San Diego Padres that earned him an All-Star appearance.

Profar will end up playing a total of 80 games for the Braves in two years since signing his free-agent contract. He played well after returning from suspension last season, posting a .245/.353/.434 slash line and 14 homers in 371 plate appearances.

Per MLB rules, Profar will also forfeit his entire $15 million salary for the 2026 season. He also lost $5.1 million last year as part of his suspension.

A third failed test would result in Profar being permanently banned from MLB. Jenrry Mejia is the only player since the league went to the current joint drug program in 2014 to receive a ban for three failed tests. He was banned in February 2016 and later reinstated in July 2018.

Profar is the first player to be suspended for multiple PED violations since Milwaukee Brewers pitcher J.C. Mejía in 2023.

Robinson Cano, Marlon Byrd and Francis Martes are the only other players who have received a 162-game suspension since 2016.

The suspension means that Profar will likely go 18 months between playing in MLB games if he is in an MLB lineup on opening day in 2027. His last appearance not including spring training games was on Sept. 28, 2025.