According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, former Boston Red Sox outfielder and current Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez has been suspended for 50 games for the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Ramirez is expected to attribute the test results to medication received from a doctor for a personal medical issue, according to a source familiar with matter but not authorized to speak publicly.
And this from Tom Verducci of SI.com:
Ramirez, a baseball source told SI.com, explained to baseball officials he was uncertain that he was taking a banned substance and may have had a medical reason for using the substance.
The source said the substance was not classified as a steroid but was clearly defined as a banned performance-enhancer according to the drug agreement between baseball the players association. Banned substances can only be taken with prior knowledge and medical clearance from baseball’s drug program administrators. Such exceptions are known as Theraputic Use Exemptions, or TUEs. The suspension is an indication that Ramirez did not have a TUE for the substance.
Manny’s suspension would start tonight and he wouldn’t be eligible to play again until July 3rd.
This is what Manny had to say about the suspension:
“Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue. He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was OK to give me,” Ramirez said. “Unfortunately, the medication was banned under our drug policy. Under the policy that mistake is now my responsibility. I have been advised not to say anything more for now.
“I do want to say one other thing; I’ve taken and passed about 15 drug tests over the past five seasons. I want to apologize to [Dodgers owner Frank] McCourt, Mrs. McCourt, [manager Joe] Torre, my teammates, the Dodger organization, and to the Dodger fans. LA is a special place to me and I know everybody is disappointed. So am I. I’m sorry about this whole situation.”
Wow. It’s scary to think that Jose Canseco was right again. I’m just happy it’s the Dodgers problem and not the Red Sox.
Manny Ramirez will be suspended 50 games for positive drug test [Los Angeles Times]
Ramirez tests positive [SI.com]
Update: According to Yahoo! Sports, the drug that Manny took was HcG, a sexual enhancer.
