Alexei Ramírez Tests Positive for Four Anabolic Steroids at 2026 World Baseball Classic

April 30, 2026

Cuban baseball legend Alexei Fernando Ramírez, the former MLB shortstop, has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for four prohibited substances during the 2026 World Baseball Classic, the International Testing Agency (ITA) announced on April 29, 2026.

The four anabolic steroids detected in Ramírez's sample were: mesterolone, metandienone, oxandrolone, and stanozolol — all classified as androgenic anabolic steroids and prohibited in competition under the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) Code.

The ITA, which was delegated by the World Baseball Classic Organizing Committee to manage the tournament's anti-doping program, issued a mandatory provisional suspension against Ramírez in accordance with established procedures. He is barred from participating in any competition while the case is resolved.

Born on September 22, 1981, in Pinar del Río, Cuba, Alexei Ramírez made history at the 2026 WBC as the oldest player ever to compete in the tournament, at 44 years of age. He represented Cuba in the international competition, returning to elite-level baseball years after retiring from Major League Baseball.

Ramírez had a distinguished MLB career, starring primarily for the Chicago White Sox from 2008 through 2015. A four-time All-Star and 2014 Gold Glove Award winner at shortstop, he was widely regarded as one of the premier defensive players of his era. Before reaching the majors, he was a standout in Cuba's Serie Nacional.

According to reports from The Washington Post, Yahoo Sports, and UPI, the case is among the most notable anti-doping violations in WBC history, both for the number of substances detected and the prominence of the player involved.

Ramírez has the right to request analysis of his B sample and to present his defense before the appropriate disciplinary panel. The process could result in a suspension of up to four years if the violation is confirmed without mitigating factors, with the final outcome dependent on the designated arbitration tribunal.

The case adds to a growing list of anti-doping incidents in international baseball and underscores the ongoing challenges the sport faces in ensuring clean competition at all levels.