On Friday, the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League announced the suspension of several players—many with ties to Major League Baseball—after testing positive for banned substances. The suspensions were issued under the league’s anti-doping program ahead of the 2025–26 season.
Among the suspended players are former MLB pitcher Jhoulys Chacín, right-hander Cristofer Ogando, and utility player Willians Astudillo. Former minor leaguer pitchers Tyler Alexander, Félix Paulino, Yoanner Negrín, and Omar Bencomo Jr. were also penalized.
Willians Astudillo and Tyler Alexander were each suspended for 20 games, while Félix Paulino, Yoanner Negrín, Cristofer Ogando each got 30-game suspensions. Jhoulys Chacín and Omar Bencomo Jr., both cited as repeat offenders by the LVBP were handed 60-game bans.
The most prominent name on the list is Jhoulys Chacín, who ranks 22nd all-time among Venezuelan pitchers with 338 MLB appearances. Over his 14-year MLB career, Chacín posted a 4.18 ERA across 1,435 2/3 innings, striking out 1,151 batters. He accumulated 18.3 career bWAR—11th all-time among Venezuelan pitchers—and played for seven different MLB teams. He was previously suspended for doping in 2023-24 but served a 12-game suspension last year.
At 37, this 60-game suspension could signal the end of Chacín’s professional career, particularly since the LVBP regular season is only 56 games long. He would not be eligible to return until the round-robin stage in December, assuming his team qualifies.
Also suspended is Willians Astudillo. The 33-year-old played five MLB seasons with the Minnesota Twins and Miami Marlins, compiling 588 plate appearances and a .267/.291/.396 slash line with 16 home runs and 70 RBIs. He burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2018, hitting .355/.371/.516 over 29 games, but never recaptured that level of production.
In the minors, Astudillo hit a strong .309/.350/.430 with 54 homers in 758 games. He’s also been a staple in the LVBP, playing in 10 of the last 11 seasons and posting a .778 OPS with 38 home runs.
Following his suspension, Caribes de Anzoátegui—his LVBP team—released him, casting doubt on his immediate playing future.
LVBP Season Outlook – The 2025–26 LVBP season is set to begin on October 15, with each team scheduled to play a 56-game regular season. A round-robin playoff in December and January will determine the two finalists for the championship series.
The reigning champions, Cardenales de Lara, won the 2025 title after defeating the Bravos de Margarita in six games.
Photo: Venezuela’s Jhoulys Chacín pitches in the first inning against Colombia during a Caribbean Series baseball game in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
