NEW YORK (AP) - Seattle Sounders defender Roman Torres has been suspended 10 games by Major League Soccer after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.
The league handed down the suspension Friday, two days before Seattle hosts Sporting Kansas City. The Sounders currently sit in second place in the Western Conference standings. It's likely new DP Xavier Arrega will take Torres’s starting spot.
Along with the suspension, Torres has been fined 20% of his annual salary. According to the MLS Players Association database, Torres is scheduled to make a base salary of $670,000 and guaranteed compensation of $740,000 for this season.
Torres may not participate in team training or use team facilities during his suspension. He may train with Seattle's USL affiliate two weeks prior to the first MLS game he's eligible to play - Sept. 29 against San Jose.
Torres has appeared in 15 matches and started 11 for Seattle this season. He has played 1,035 minutes this season, eighth on Seattle's roster.
