Is Fernando Tatis Jr.'s PED Story Plausible?

Fans, media, teammates and his general manager have all been critical of Fernando Tatis Jr. for apparent "cheating" after he tested positive for Clostebol, a banned substance. 

Last week, Sports Injury Central was critical of Tatis in detailing that clostebol (the anabolic steroid he tested positive for) is not prescribed for ringworm treatment in the US.

At this point, few if any believe in his innocence from PED use, but his dad did provide a plausible explanation.

His father, Fernando Tatis Sr., said his son used Trofobol spray to treat ringworm, a fungal skin infection. Indeed Trofobol contains Clostebol (and Neomycin, an antibiotic.) The medication is not available or used in US because it is not FDA approved.

The timeline and how Tatis got the medication is important for the believability of the story. If he used it during the lockout when he was in the Dominican and away from the team, it would add to the plausibility.

Some claim his guilt is that he did not appeal. He could have quietly done so and lost before the announcement. The system is one of strict liability where the athlete is responsible for what is found in their urine or blood. Only chain of custodian (Ryan Braun), testing error or unsupported B sample corroboration on retesting are successful grounds for appeal.

Tatis will meet with team management and players shortly. It will be interesting what he has to say.

In some foreign countries, like the Domincan Republic, when one needs medicine, they visit the farmacia. There is no doctor's prescription required and most medicines can be bought over-the-counter.

An informal poll of three farmacias in the Dominican revealed that Trofobol is carried there. One pharmacist said they sell it "regularly" for ringworm, two others said there are better medications to treat the fungal infection but it is available upon request.

A few dermatologists in the Dominican said they don't really recommend it for ringworm, but agreed Trofobol is widely available.

Athletes typically are very careful of what they ingest or have injected into their bodies but are less careful about skin medications. Many may not realize it can get into there system and be detectable through urine or blood.

Trofobol does have clostebol listed as an ingredient on the label alongside Neomycin, an antibiotic.

Tatis’ mother posted a photo on Instagram last Friday showing an apparent rash on his neck. It was not immediately clear when that picture was taken.

As the Pro Baseball Docs detailed last week, it is unlikely Tatis took clostebol to help aid with the recovery of the fractured scaphoid bone in his left wrist.

Anabolic steroids slow down bone healing. Anti-inflammatory steroids, commonly used in creams to treat skin conditions, have no effect on bone healing.

Medical jargon aside, the result is the same for Tatis and the Padres. They will remain apart for 80 games, which will likely stretch into late April/early May depending on how many playoff games the Padres play.

San Diego was aggressive this offseason and at the trade deadline to add talent around the phenom shortstop, but he has been absent from the lineup all season.

Last season, the Padres averaged 4.5 runs per game. This season they are at 4.43 runs per game (tied for 14th in the league) but have averaged 5.25 runs per game since acquiring Juan Soto, Josh Bell and Brandon Drury at the trade deadline.

The Dodgers lead the league in runs per game with 5.37 this season.

San Diego has gone 8-8 in that recent 16-game stretch and currently sit two games up in the last National League Wild Card spot with 42 games left to play. The Padres (66-54) trail the Dodgers by 17 games in the division.

The farther the team makes it in the playoffs without their start shortstop, the quicker he can return in 2023. Hopefully, the 23 year old will get his left shoulder fixed in the meantime.