Reds' Noel, Braves' Carpio suspended

Braves right-handed pitcher Humberto Carpio and Reds Minor League outfielder Yoel Noel were each handed 50-game suspensions Friday after testing positive for steroids.

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced that Carpio was suspended without pay after testing positive for metabolites of Stanozolol, while Noel tested positive for a metabolite of Nandrolone. Both bans are effective immediately.

Noel, 18, was batting .172 with a homer, four RBIs and a .198 on-base percentage in 26 games this season with the Reds in the Dominican Summer League. Carpio, 19, has yet to appear in a Minor League game.

Nandrolone is an anabolic steroid that, in the past, has been used in the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. It's commonly known as Deca-Durabolin.

Stanozolol is a synthetic anabolic steroid derived from testosterone that is sometimes prescribed by veterinarians to encourage muscle growth, red blood cell production, bone density and to stimulate the appetite of weakened animals. It's also been linked to body builders and several former Major Leaguers players and has been cited in nine Minor League suspensions in 2013.

Major League Baseball has suspended 35 players in 2013 for violations of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, including seven this week. Rays catcher Mark Thomas was suspended July 23, the Yankees' Anderson Severino and the Indians' Rubiel Martinez, both in the Dominican Summer League, were suspended July 25, and Arizona's Eric Smith joined Pittsburgh's Delvin Hiciano in receiving 50-game bans July 25.