After a positive test
Doping scandal: German sports star banned in the USA
January 9, 2026 – 11:10 p.mReading time: 1 Min.
Max Kepler has been playing in Major League Baseball since 2015. But now the outfielder is at the center of a doping scandal – and won’t be playing again for a long time.
Draconian punishment: German baseball professional Max Kepler has been banned for 80 games by the North American professional league MLB. The 32-year-old tested positive for a breakdown product of the steroid Trenbolone. The league announced this on Friday.
The long ban could now have a significant impact on Kepler’s career planning: The Berlin native was actually currently looking for a new team.
Kepler most recently played for the Philadelphia Phillies and reached the playoffs with the team. However, he was eliminated in the first round against the Los Angeles Dodgers. His contract has now expired and he is looking for a new club. The MLB suspension means Kepler will miss almost half of the upcoming season’s games and is also ineligible to play in potential playoff games.
