Many suspended 50 games!

NEW YORK (AP)—Manny Ramirez(notes) was suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball on Thursday, becoming the latest high-profile player ensnared in the sport’s drug scandals.

The commissioner’s office didn’t announce the specific violation by the Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder, who will lose about one-third of his $25 million salary.

“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 in a statement issued by the players’ union.

“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.”

This is the second major drug revelation to hit baseball in the last few months. In February, Alex Rodriguez(notes) admitted taking steroids while playing for Texas from 2001-03. But that was before the start of testing with penalties under a program agreed to by players and management. The New York Yankee star doesn’t appear likely to be suspended.

Ramirez is the third player suspended this year under the major league program, following Philadelphia reliever J.C. Romero(notes) and Yankees pitcher Sergio Mitre(notes).

Just two relatively low-profile players were suspended under the major league program last year, San Francisco catcher Elizier Alfonzo and Colorado catcher Humberto Coto.

In the past, the best-known player penalized was Baltimore’s Rafael Palmeiro, who received a 10-day suspension in 2005, the first year of penalties for first infractions.

Finally they get a big name!



Hopefully the Dodgers lose every game while he's out!

All I can say is, I'm not surprised.

Manny suspended 50 games for PED use
Ramirez biggest name to be penalized by MLB's drug policy

By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com

05/07/09 4:28 PM ET

LOS ANGELES -- Major League Baseball suspended Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez for 50 games on Thursday for use of a performance-enhancing drug.

Major League Baseball made an official announcement shortly after noon ET.

Ramirez, in a statement released by the Major League Baseball Players Association, attributed the suspension to his use of a doctor-prescribed medication and waived his right to challenge the discipline.

"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. 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 Mr. McCourt, Mrs. McCourt, Mr. 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."

According to ESPN, which cited two sources, the drug used by Ramirez was human chorionic gonadatropin (HCG), a women's fertility drug. The drug is typically taken by steroid users when they come off a steroid cycle in order to restart their body's natural production of testosterone, according to the report.

Ramirez, who turns 37 on May 30, will begin the suspension with Thursday night's Dodgers-Nationals game. He would be eligible to return around July 3, depending on rainouts.

"We share the disappointment felt by our fans, our players, and every member of our organization," Los Angeles Dodgers CEO Jamie McCourt said in a statement. "We support the policies of Major League Baseball, and we will welcome Manny back upon his return."

Ramirez -- a 12-time All-Star who immediately became the face of the Dodgers franchise upon his acquisition last summer -- is the biggest name player to be issued a 50-game suspension under the MLB's more stringent drug policy that was adopted in 2006.

According to the drug policy, a player receives a 50-game suspension for a first positive drug test, a 100-game suspension for a second positive test and a lifetime ban for a third positive test.

All suspensions are without pay, so the suspension will cost Ramirez, who re-signed with the Dodgers as a free agent on a two-year contract that was to pay him $25 million this season, roughly $7.7 million.

Ramirez has been a key component in leading the Dodgers to the best record in baseball this year. In 27 games, he is batting .348 with six home runs and 20 RBIs. He is among league leaders in slugging and on-base percentage and has become the biggest drawing card the Dodgers have had since Fernando Valenzuela, even recently having a portion of the left-field box seats rechristened "Mannywood."

Wednesday night, Ramirez went 1-for-3 with a two-run double as the Dodgers set a modern-day record with their 13th consecutive home win to open a season.

Juan Pierre would be the immediate replacement for Ramirez in left field, while the Dodgers are expected to promote rookie Xavier Paul from Triple-A Albuqueruque to replace Ramirez on the active roster.

Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

So it's the doctor's fault and he didn't realize what he was doing?
Too bad everyone else has the same story.

Supposedly he took hCG (Human chorionic gonadotropin) which is something normally taken by women trying to become pregnant. The folks at dodgers.com say he didn't do anything wrong and was just trying to improve his sex life.

The problem with this is athletes like to take hCG since it increases testosterone levels (testosterone is of course a steroid) and hCG enhances other drugs they may be taken.

In fairness to Ramirez, hCG is technically not a steroid. It is of course banned as it promotes the secretion of steroids.

I really don't think Manny needed an improvement in his sex life.
the truth finds you out, as can be noted in most life situations.

laprimamirala wrote:

I really don't think Manny needed an improvement in his sex life.
the truth finds you out, as can be noted in most life situations.

If he did, there are other drugs that he could have taken.

catbox_9 wrote:

laprimamirala wrote:

I really don't think Manny needed an improvement in his sex life.
the truth finds you out, as can be noted in most life situations.

If he did, there are other drugs that he could have taken.

...and those drugs are FAR more effective! at least according to my pharmacology class...

Wooow. Awkward conversation.

catbox_9 wrote:

laprimamirala wrote:

I really don't think Manny needed an improvement in his sex life.
the truth finds you out, as can be noted in most life situations.

If he did, there are other drugs that he could have taken.

Call Viagra Now!

Oh wait, wrong board...

gdennis59 wrote:

Wooow. Awkward conversation.

aww c'mon! You're used to us by NOW....

Yeah, but the conversations are still waaaaaay out there lol.

we're your waaaaay out there buds!

Haha. True statement.