So far this year, MLB has suspended two likeable players for PEDs. 

The first was Chris Colabello. He tested positive for Turinabol (clinically referred to as dehydrochlormethyltestosterone). He claimed he didn’t know how it happened:

  
Colabello said he only took supplements given to him and approved by the Blue Jays strength and conditioning staff.  Reading this, you have to feel bad for the guy. He did the right thing, and yet, he still was suspended. 

However, as reported by Arden Zwelling of SportsNet, it’s not realistic to believe Colabello didn’t know what he was taking. Turinabol was taken off the market in 1990 and is only available on the black market. 

This past week it was announced Dee Gordon was suspended for using two anabolic steroids, testosterone and clostebol. Like Colabello, he tested positive despite being careful:  

  
Unlike Colabello, Gordon dropped his appeal. Apparently, he felt there was no point pursuing it considering the suspensions are upheld the vast majority of the times. Like Colabello and many before him, Gordon is making the claim that he was taking the tainted supplement. 

According to Will Carroll of Fan Duel, Gordon’s claims are false. The drugs Gordon tested positive for are typically used in combination with other steroids like HGH. Now, we don’t know if he was using HGH or something else, but we do know he tested positive for something used with other steroids. As such, it’s hard to believe he only took these two steroids accidentally and wasn’t using anything else.

Colabello and Gordon seemed to be victims at the outset, but in reality, they’re not. They’re doing the same thing each and every player has done since the inception of PED testing and penalties. They are doing the game a disservice. They are doing a disservice to the fans. They are doing a disservice to their teammates and their fellow players as a whole. 

Sooner or later, there will truly be a false positive, if it hasn’t already happened. The aggrieved player will preach his innocence. No one will believe him due to the Colabellos and Gordons of the world.