Mariners prospect Powell suspended 80 games for PEDs

Boog Powell, a 23-year-old center fielder widely considered one of the Seattle Mariners' top-10 prospects, was suspended 80 games without pay Thursday after testing positive for dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, a performance-enhancing substance.

In a statement released almost immediately after his suspension was announced, Powell denied knowingly taking any illicit substances, and vowed to find out how the drug got into his system.

"While I realize this has become a common refrain among athletes faced with such discipline, the truth is I do not know how this substance could possibly have been in my system," Powell said. "I can only say that this is not a reflection on my true character, and those who know me understand the deep respect I have for my fellow competitors and teammates. I would never betray that by attempting to gain an improper advantage."

Powell, a 20th-round pick in the 2012 draft acquired by the Mariners in November, is the fourth player this year to test positive for dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, an anabolic steroid popular among East German athletes in the 1970s. In April, Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Chris Colabello landed an 80-game suspension after testing positive for the drug known commonly as Turinabol, while a pair of Philadelphia Phillies minor-leaguers - Daniel Stumpf and Alec Asher - were also suspended for taking dehydrochlormethyltestosterone.

Added to the Mariners' 40-man roster shortly after he came over from the Tampa Bay Rays this offseason, Powell had gotten off to a mediocre start with Triple-A Tacoma in 2016, hitting .270/.326/.359 with three homers and 10 stolen bases in 64 games in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.