Hiroshima Carp slugger Xavier Batista received a six-month suspension on Tuesday from Nippon Professional Baseball after testing positive for clomiphene, a non-steroidal fertility medicine, that is classified by the World Anti-Doping Agency as an “S4” violation, involving hormone or metabolic modulators. Clomiphene can be used to suppress the side effects of anabolic steroids.

During that span, from Sept. 2 to March 2, Batista cannot use team facilities or play in Carp practice or other games, suggesting he may be headed home to the Dominican Republic and a prolonged stay at the Carp academy.

Batista did not dispute the result of the tests but said he had not intentionally taken the drug.

This season, Orix Buffaloes first baseman Joey Meneses was suspended one year for using the steroid stanozolol. The shortened ban handed to Batista reflects the difference of the drugs they tested positive for. Clomiphene had not previously been detected in NPB.

Batista is the seventh player found to have violated doping rules in NPB.