It’s been a tumultuous season in the career of San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., who received an 80-game suspension for violating the MLB’s performance-enhancing drug policy earlier this month. Tatis, signee of a massive 14-year, $340 million contract with the Padres in 2021, had already not played a single game this season after breaking his wrist in a motorcycle accident during the offseason. It’s been reported that the Padres will not attempt to get out of their agreement with Tatis, but the same can’t be said for another one of his biggest partners.
Global sportswear brand Adidas announced that it has terminated its relationship with Tatis following the PED suspension.
“We believe that sport should be fair,” an Adidas spokesman told ESPN’s Alden González. “We have a clear policy on doping and can confirm that our partnership with Fernando Tatis Jr. will not continue.”
Tatis officially joined Adidas in 2020 following a Rookie of the Year campaign in San Diego. He was the face of several product activations and even launched his own colorway of the popular Ultra Boost running shoe last year.
Tatis has acknowledged his use of Clostebol, a synthetic muscle-building steroid, but insists it wasn’t his intention. Instead, he says that it was in a medication he was taking to treat a case of ringworm. Tatis’ suspension will last the rest of this season and early next season, depending on how many playoff games the Padres play.
