Drug Test Drama: Why MLB Players Are Avoiding This Popular Energy Drink

Celsius Energy Drink is all over store shelves and gym bags, thanks to its bold branding and endorsement deals with athletes like Olympic sprinting champion Noah Lyles. But in the world of professional baseball, it's now at the center of a surprising dugout controversy—because according to several reports, it might cause a false positive on a cocaine drug test.

The scoop comes from Detroit Tigers prospect writer Emily Waldon, who took to X (formerly Twitter) on June 8 to share what she overheard at the ballpark. She reported that players and staff in the West Michigan Whitecaps dugout were actively warning each other to avoid Celsius, noting that it's been “known to flag as cocaine in MLB drug testing.”

While not officially banned by Major League Baseball, Celsius is now “strongly discouraged” for use, according to Waldon's sources. The league reportedly maintains a list of “safe” energy drinks that are cleared for use during drug testing, with C4 and Red Bull earning top approval ratings among the West Michigan roster.

The claim has led to a flurry of reactions online, with some fans joking that a failed test could now come with a built-in excuse. As one user put it: “If I'm a prospect that likes to dabble in the nightlife, I'm blaming that positive on my affinity for Celsius every single time.”

As of now, there’s no official confirmation from MLB or any lab verifying the connection between Celsius and false positives for cocaine. However, similar concerns have been raised before. According to Credihealth, Celsius has triggered NCAA drug test failures in the past when consumed “irresponsibly.”

So what’s the takeaway here? If you’re a professional athlete, or just someone concerned about drug test accuracy, you might want to check the label before you chug. Because even if it’s not banned, Celsius might bring more heat than you bargained for.

Read the full story from Yahoo Sports here.