German baseball professional Max Kepler has been suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball. The 32-year-old from Berlin tested positive for the anabolic steroid Epitrenbolone. Kepler, who is currently without a contract, has not yet commented on the allegation.
Major League Baseball (MLB) announced on Monday that Max Kepler has received an 80-game suspension. The positive test for Epitrenbolone, a performance-enhancing substance, constitutes a violation of the league's drug prevention and treatment program. Epitrenbolone is an anabolic steroid that promotes muscle growth and is used in bodybuilding products as well as for cattle growth promotion.
The 32-year-old Berliner, born in 1993, is considered the best German baseball player in history. Kepler started his career in the German Baseball Bundesliga with the Regensburg Legionäre before debuting in MLB in 2015. There, he played ten years as an outfielder and first baseman for the Minnesota Twins. For the 2025 season, he signed a one-year contract worth 10 million dollars with the Philadelphia Phillies. Overall, he earned more than 50 million dollars in MLB. However, since November, he has been without a contract and active as a free agent.
The suspension covers about half of the 162 games in the regular season, which could deter potential teams. There has been no statement from Kepler or his agency so far. The case recalls that of boxer Manuel Charr, who tested positive for Epitrenbolone in 2018, though the test was later overturned.
Kepler's career now hangs in the balance, as the positive test jeopardizes his future in MLB.
