Guillermo Moscoso, starting pitcher for Los Criollos de Anzoategui of Venezuela, throws the ball in the first inning during the game between Colombia and Venezuela as part of Serie del Caribe 2021 at Teodoro Mariscal Stadium on February 2, 2021 in Mazatlan, Mexico. Moscoso was suspended after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs while pitching in the LVBP in the 2023-24 season. (Photo by Luis Gutierrez/Norte Photo/Getty Images)
The Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional announced on Tuesday that Venezuelan infielder Edgar Duran will be suspended for 20 games and right-handed pitcher Guillermo Moscoso for 12 games for violating the league’s anti-doping program, which is overseen by the Players’ Association of the LVBP.
Moscoso, 40, was born in Maracay, Venezuela, and was playing for the Tigres de Aragua, was selected to be drug tested on January 17 by the PALVBP. Duran, 33, was born in Valencia, Venezuela, and was with the Bravos de Margarita when he was selected to be tested on January 18.
According to the league’s website, “On Feb. 6, 2024, notification of the first test was received, and on Feb. 15 of the second, analyzed by the UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory of the United States of America. These results came back positive for a prohibited substance.”
The league’s website stated that it was determined to reduce Durán’s original suspension of 30 games by a third, and 20 games in the case of Moscoso, based on the program’s rules.
Both players will have to comply with the suspension protocols once they are signed by an LVBP organization and their contracts are registered with the LVBP offices.
Moscoso has played five seasons in Major League Baseball with the Texas Rangers from 2009-10, the Oakland Athletics in 2011, the Colorado Rockies in 2012, and the San Francisco Giants in 2013.
In five seasons in MLB, he has a career record of 13-14 with a 4.28 ERA, appearing in 70 games and making 26 starts, throwing 222.2 innings and allowing 206 hits, 106 earned runs, 28 home runs, 86 walks, 166 strikeouts, and a 1.311 WHIP.
During his international career, Moscoso has played in 16 seasons in Venezuela with the Leones del Caracas from 2007-11 and 2012-14, the Tigres de Aragua from 2017-24 and Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars from 2014-16.
During his 16 seasons in the international leagues in Venezuela and Japan, Moscoso has posted a 65-67 record with a 4.01 ERA in 263 games and 179 starts, throwing five complete games and earning three saves. He has thrown 1,113 innings, allowing 1,139 hits, 504 earned runs, 114 home runs, 372 walks, 841 strikeouts, and a 1.337 WHIP.
Duran has never played in MLB and has played 12 seasons in LVBP with Bravos de Margarita in 2008-09, 2012-14, 2015-17, and 2022-24, the Tigres de Aragua from 2016-18, and the Tiburones de La Guaira from 2018-22.
In 12 seasons in LVBP, Duran has played in 432 games with a career average of .269 in 1,658 plate appearances, with 371 hits, 59 doubles, 13 triples, 23 home runs, 171 RBI, 19 stolen bases, 172 walks, 268 strikeouts, and a .713 OPS.