Major League Soccer and the Portland Timbers have terminated the contract of designated player Brian Fernandez due to failure to comply with the league’s substance abuse and behavioral health (SABH) program, the team announced on Friday night.



According to the collective bargaining agreement, MLS commissioner Don Garber can terminate a player’s contract with 24 hours’ written notice for, among other things, “if the Player violates the SABH or is subjected to any penalties for testing positive for a banned substance, for noncompliance, or for refusal to submit to a drug test as required under the SABH.” It is the first time the league has acted on that clause, however.



The team did not comment on what specifically constitutes as non-compliance with the SABH program, but two league sources said the MLS Players Association will be filing a grievance on behalf of Fernandez.



Sources also indicate MLS is suing Fernandez’s...