According to the Los Angeles Times, Dodgers superstar Manny Ramirez is to be hit with a 50-game ban for a violation of MLB's drug policy, making him the biggest name yet caught and punished.
Ramirez used HCG -- human chorionic gonadotropin -- a women's fertility drug, according to a report on ESPN.com. Sources in the slugger's camp have indicated that he was prescribed the substance because of erectile dysfunction, according to Yahoo! Sports, however, erectile dysfunction is a potential side effect of steroid use and many dopers use HCG or other similar substances to kickstart the body's production of testosterone as they come off of a steroid cycle.
Ramirez's drug test raised huge red flags with Major League Baseball because his testosterone levels were so out of whack, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. His testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio was greater than 4 to 1. In most humans, the ratio is closer to 1 to 1. Testers also got a hold of documents that showed he was using HCG, meaning they had a drug test that indicated PED use and an analytical positive.
Ramirez issued the following statement through the players' union, which said he did not challenge the suspension.
"Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue. He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was okay 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.Still, this is quite a blow to Manny, the Dodgers and baseball.
"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." – Manny Ramirez
Manny had become beloved in L.A., where he had helped erase some of the bad publicity he created for himself by sulking his way out of Boston last summer.
"We share the disappointment felt by our fans, players and every member of our organization," Dodgers owner Frank McCourt said in a statement. "We will welcome Manny back upon his return."
Ramirez's entire career – 17th-all time in homers and 19th in RBI – is now tainted. "Manny being Manny," won't cut it any more. He's no longer quirky; now he's just another user.
On the field, the Dodgers have a nice cushion in the NL West, 6 1/2 games over the Giants. But all the excitement of a 13-0 start in home games now turns to consternation over Manny – who merely leads the team in average (.348), walks (26), on-base percentage (.492, best in the NL) and slugging percentage (.641). This is the kind of test to a team's mindset that Joe Torre regularly dealt with (successfully) in New York.
Most of all, this reinforces the notion that anyone who performed at a high level in the past 15 years was getting help.
If Hall of Fame voters keep out players who have been suspended for or admitted to using PEDs, the list includes Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez and Rafael Palmeiro. Add in Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, whose performances in front of Congress seem to have gotten them blackballed, and Barry Bonds and that's six of the top 17 in career home runs.
Latest Manny Ramirez Images
Los Angeles Dodgers Manny Ramirez hits a two-run double against the Washington Nationals during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Lori Shepler).
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Los Angeles Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw is tagged out by Washington Nationals catcher Jesus Flores during the fifith inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 6, 2009. Dodgers' Manny Ramirez was safe at first on a fielder's choice. (AP Photo/Lori Shepler).
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Los Angeles Dodgers' Manny Ramirez celebrates as he advances to third base off of an RBI single by teammate Andre Ethier during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Tuesday, May 5, 2009, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)
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Los Angeles Dodgers' Manny Ramirez, right, grimaces after being hit by a pitch as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Chris Snyder stands at left, during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles on Monday, May 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Hector Mata)
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Los Angeles Dodgers' Manny Ramirez gestures after being hit by a pitch during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Los Angeles on Monday, May 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Hector Mata)
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Los Angeles Dodgers' Manny Ramirez runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Los Angeles on Monday, May 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Hector Mata)
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Los Angeles Dodgers' Manny Ramirez runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday, May 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Hector Mata)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 03: Manny Ramirez #99 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates a 7-3 victory over the San Diego Padres with teammates at Dodger Stadium on May 3, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Manny Ramirez
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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 30: Matt Kemp #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates a 8-5 win with Manny Ramirez #99 and Andre Ethier #16 over the San Diego Padres after the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium on April 30, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers would win 8-5. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Matt Kemp;Manny Ramirez;Andre Ethier
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Los Angeles Dodgers' Manny Ramirez, left, celebrates with Rafael Furcal after Ramirez hit a solo home run in the third inning against the San Diego Padres on Thursday, April 30, 2009, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Pasadena Star-News, Keith Birmingham) ** MAGS OUT NO SALES **
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
5-07-2009 @ 11:59AM
jhooperaa said...
So let's take a look at the state of baseball. We now have Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, and Manny Rameriz who are the top three power hitters of this baseball era and they are taking illegal drugs. We also have Roger Clemens who we all know is juiced. Baseball is a joke. NONE of these guys should EVER get in the Hall of Fame.
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5-07-2009 @ 12:16PM
bay1031 said...
right on!
5-07-2009 @ 4:14PM
dinohealth said...
If you, and the writer of this story, believe this has been going on for just the last 15 years, think again. Every generation of players has had its performance-enhancing remedies, stimulants, and so forth. No one would be in the Hall of Fame.
5-07-2009 @ 3:12PM
jess said...
everyone and their morals all of a sudden--get out of here. the MLB is still getting your money via every hit these players make, so i'm sure they don't care THAT much about the extra juice.
5-07-2009 @ 12:10PM
OrangeChuckE said...
No excuses, he cheated and should be punished. I love this game and these jerks are ruining it claiming they need an edge or some doctor/drug misled them. If you can't stand the heat naturally, get your butt out the kitchen, we don't need you.
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5-07-2009 @ 12:13PM
jefdebooy said...
PETE ROSE. IS ABOUT ALL I CAN SAY TO THIS
LET HIM IN !!!!!! BASEBALL WHAT A JOKE.
HOCKEY
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5-07-2009 @ 12:14PM
Vince A. Rosa said...
B U S T E D
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5-07-2009 @ 12:14PM
Ali said...
Enjoy him Dodgers. He's all yours. Good riddance!
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5-07-2009 @ 12:16PM
Spike said...
Performing enhancing drugs run rampant in all professional sports such as baseball, football boxing, you name it, there's drugs. Even outside sports. Take actors, you would be supprised how many actors take steroids or growth hormone. It can't be controlled.
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5-07-2009 @ 12:16PM
ellenbjim said...
Perhaps teams should start forfieting games and pennants, similar to olympians being stripped of medals?
That might get someone's attention!
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5-07-2009 @ 12:18PM
gimmea6 said...
So does that invalidate the Red Sox Championships? According to what they said about the Yankees it would.
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5-07-2009 @ 12:22PM
jhooperaa said...
I am a Red Sox fan but I do not think it invalidates the championships because quite frankly I think every teams best players are juiced.
5-07-2009 @ 4:43PM
jakesbog said...
replying to jhooperra, i disagree because i don't think jeter has ever been juiced up, as seen by his home run record. there are few players who remain loyal to the game and it's unfair to situate the cheaters and noncheaters in the same game. it's unfair play and the real hall of famers are going by unnoticed because all the juiced up fakes out there are taking all the fame. baseball has gone from the best form of entertainment of the country to a joke. i hate baseball.
5-07-2009 @ 4:47PM
Geezer said...
Are you forgetting the fact that the Sox won their titles as a team? It's not like Manny cloned himself, played every position, and won them for the Sox.
5-07-2009 @ 10:37PM
bill520 said...
No while he was a member of the Red Sox he passed these drug test. It seems to me he was trying to kick start his career in LA
5-07-2009 @ 12:20PM
Robyn said...
Sucker!!! ;-)
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5-07-2009 @ 12:20PM
mastanameless16 said...
Down goes another one. Next up.....
Albert Pujols.
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5-07-2009 @ 12:20PM
Harry said...
And Arnold, Romanowski, Armstrong, etc..Accept it, it's part of life in any major sport.
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5-07-2009 @ 12:21PM
National said...
The double standards in baseball are striking!!
Where is the punishment for A-Rod... is he too big a New York Darling to treat the same? The punishment Pete Rose recieved is way overdone compared to what is done to these drug users. All done with the knowledge of Selig to bring fans to the ballpark and part with their hard earned money and lot's of it. Unfortunately you can indeed fool a lot of the people all of the time.
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5-07-2009 @ 2:29PM
emira49165 said...
Number one I'm a Dodger fan but ARod did not fail a drug test. He tested positive in what was supposed to be a blind test and has not tested positive since or he too would have been given the 50 game band. Manny is claiming that a doctor gave him a medication which contained a banned substance. He has not tested postive between 2003 and now so is it credible, maybe.
Of course if baseball would release those 104 names we would not be having this debate
Number two what the hell does any of this have to do with Pete Rose a man who gambled on baseball then lied about it to everyone, called Bart Giamatti a liar for 15 years. Went on countless talk show and stated he never gambled on baseball. Then when he needed the money finally told the truth in his book. Pete bet on sports bet on his own team and anyone who doesn't believe that he bet against his own team when he was down $50,000.00 that week would have to be either Pete's son or just an idiot