Adrian Nieto, a minor league catcher in the Washington Nationals organization, was suspended today after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs, according to multiple sources citing a Major League Baseball release.
According to MASN.com's Ben Goessling:
The release said Nieto tested positive for Oxandrolone, a drug primarily used to stimulate weight gain, and metabolite, which is a performance-enhancing substance. His suspension will start at the beginning of the 2011 season.
Nieto, 21, hit .195/.291/.253 last season for Single-A Hagerstown of the South Atlantic League. The Cuban native was a fifth round pick in the 2008 Amateur Draft.
This marks the third year in a row the Nats farm system has lost a prospect due to a positive PED test. In 2009, infielder Stephen King tested positive for Ritalinic Acid, and last season infielder Seth Bynum tested positive for amphetamines. Both players received the automatic 50-game suspension.
(ed., 5:46 pm) Nats Prospects reminds me that this the fourth consecutive year the Nats have lost a minor leaguer to a PED suspension. In fact, the Nats have had several minor league players suspended under their more rigorous testing program. For a complete list of all players suspended for PEDs, click this link.
2011: Adrian Nieto (Oxandrolone and Metabolite).
2010: J.R. Higley (Methylphenidate and Ritalininc Acid), Steven Souza (Methylphenidate and Ritalininc Acid), Juan Diaz (nandrolone), Jorge Hernandez (Boldenone), Pedro Lopez (Formestane).
2009: Edgardo Baez (amphetamines), Ofilio Castro (amphetamines), Stephen Englund (amphetamines), Stephen King (Ritalinic Acid).
2008: Weesley Hernandez (Boldenone).
2006: Greg Thissen (Drug of Abuse)
2005: Ramon Castro (PEDs-105 games), Josh Labandeira (PEDs)
(ed., 5:46 pm) Nats Prospects reminds me that this the fourth consecutive year the Nats have lost a minor leaguer to a PED suspension. In fact, the Nats have had several minor league players suspended under their more rigorous testing program. For a complete list of all players suspended for PEDs, click this link.
Nationals Minor League Suspension for PEDs
2011: Adrian Nieto (Oxandrolone and Metabolite).
2010: J.R. Higley (Methylphenidate and Ritalininc Acid), Steven Souza (Methylphenidate and Ritalininc Acid), Juan Diaz (nandrolone), Jorge Hernandez (Boldenone), Pedro Lopez (Formestane).
2009: Edgardo Baez (amphetamines), Ofilio Castro (amphetamines), Stephen Englund (amphetamines), Stephen King (Ritalinic Acid).
2008: Weesley Hernandez (Boldenone).
2006: Greg Thissen (Drug of Abuse)
2005: Ramon Castro (PEDs-105 games), Josh Labandeira (PEDs)
Interesting to note that even though some of them were drafted fairly high, none of the guys who've been caught were any good.
Call it Nook Logan Syndrome. :)
yup. The Nats system is by no means the worst offenders, but interesting that every years someone gets nabbed.
thanks for the comment.
Nandrolone is very popular steroids for athletes...