Toronto Blue Jays Investigating Rise in PED Suspensions

The Toronto Blue Jays have been hit hard with PED suspensions in the past two seasons. Understandably, the organization is looking to find out why.

In general, PED usage appears to be down throughout the game. Suspensions are not as commonplace as they have been in the majors, as the rampant steroid usage from two decades ago has been curtailed. However, there are still issues with PEDs in the minor leagues, a situation that the Toronto Blue Jays are all too aware of.

From 2005 through 2015, a grand total of 18 players in the Blue Jays farm system were suspended for drug usage. That number has spiked in the past two seasons, as 13 players have been suspended. In the past week alone, six Blue Jays minor leaguers were suspended for drug usage.

Understandably, that increase has drawn the attention of the Blue Jays front office. After failing to have more than three drug suspensions in a single season over the previous 11 years, this surge has to be perplexing. As a result, the Blue Jays are conducting their own investigation into the increase in positive results.

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Whatever the problem is, it appears to be limited to the minor league level. Over the past 13 years, only Chris Colabello tested positive for PEDs. In that case, he was discovered to have metabolites of dehydrochlormethyltestosterone in his system, triggering the failed test. Predictably, Colabello did not know how the substance got into his system.

The results of this investigation will certainly be interesting. In delving deeper to find out why there were so many failed tests, the Blue Jays may be able to identify various supplements that had not been banned previously. Likewise, they may be able to find psychological reasons behind the desire to take PEDs, and ways to mitigate those issues. The pressure to perform, and the toll it takes mentally, could well lead to such usage. If there were changes in the way the Blue Jays handled their minor league players over past two years, that could come to light as well.

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The Toronto Blue Jays have had a sudden increase in drug suspensions over the past two years. Now, they want to know why.