Manny Ramirez Will Be Suspended 50 Games for Positive Drug Test

Los Angeles Times ^ | May 7, 2009 | Bill Shaikin and Dylan Hernandez

[kellynla]

Manny Ramirez has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and will be suspended 50 games starting today, The Times has learned.

The test result and suspension is expected to be announced later today. The Dodgers informed triple-A outfielder Xavier Paul this morning that he was being promoted to Los Angeles.

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.

With the suspension taking effect with tonight's game at Dodger Stadium, Ramirez will not be eligible to return to the team until July 3.

Ramirez would become the biggest star suspended under an oft-criticized major league testing program that started in 2003. He had been a model citizen since arriving in Los Angeles last August, following a stormy tenure with the Boston Red Sox.

This is the second drug scandal to rock baseball within four months. In a year in which baseball officials hoped their greatest concern would be the slumping economy, the two highest-paid players in the game have been revealed to have failed a drug test.

Alex Rodriguez, the game's highest-paid player, acknowledged during a February news conference that he used steroids from 2001 to 2003. The admission followed a Sports Illustrated report that he failed a drug test in 2003, when players were not subject to suspension.

Ramirez did not appear in the clubhouse after the Dodgers' 10-3 victory over the Washington Nationals Wednesday night. After the game, Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti and Manager Joe Torre said they were unaware of any failed test or pending suspension.

As unconfirmed reports circulated around Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night, Scott Boras, the agent for Ramirez, declined to comment.

[dfwgator]

Now we know the real reason the Red Sox were so keen in dealing him.

[WOBBLY BOB]

make him cut his nasty hair and get a uniform that fits.

[kellynla]

Please post link:http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-manny-ramirez8-2009may08,0,7402416,print.story

Thanks

[pissant]

He looks like a pot smoker to me.

[NormsRevenge]

Ouch!

No, make that 50 Ouches!

[Man50D]

It’s not a fact until MLB makes an announcement.

[reagandemocrat]

Ruh Roh.

[Vaquero]

Hey Joe Torre....lets see you keep up that national league recort now.

[Vaquero]

recorD

[misterrob]

The Dodgers have talent beyond Manny....

[ChrisInAR]

He looks like a pot smoker to me.

So what???

[Nachum]

My son is a big Dodger fan and he is very bummed.

[Vaquero]

poo on those trolly Dodgers

[SMCC1]

It’ll be interesting to find out what it is. JC Romero (Phillies) was suspended for taking a supplement he bought at a GNC store. But this was prescribed, so who knows.

[VA_Gentleman]

I guess that’s just Manny being Manny.

[misterrob]

But, the Yankees still suck though

[stylecouncilor]

The MLB should reduce the players that test positive to rookie pay. That would be a good incentive to stay clean!!

[BigEdLB]

Manny's Replacement

[sinanju]

Well I’ll be a monkey’s uncle.

Somebody is actually receiving a substantive punishment for “juicing.”

If this is for real, and the rules are actually going to be enforced from here on in, it’s going to be a paradigm-changer.

Look for physiques and home-run stats to deflate across the board.

[OCCASparky]

Manny Who?

Sincerely,
Jason Bay

[Rennes Templar]

“He looks like a pot smoker to me.”

“So what?”

THC has obviously destroyed a significant amount of his neurons.

[Chuzzlewit]

bummer.. same here.. been watching every game of my Dodgers.. it’s helped me keep sane, as of late..

sheesh, I’ll bet it is pot, which doesn’t seem quite fair.. could he be suspended for that? after all, that is not a performance enhancing drug... in fact in would wreck performance..

[VA_Gentleman]

No joke. The Red Sox are laughing heartily at this one. Not much of a drop off in production from Bay, plus he doesn’t have a frying pan for a glove in the outfield.

[kellynla]

“Now we know the real reason the Red Sox were so keen in dealing him.”

I suggest you get your facts straight BEFORE you smear someone...according to the BOSOX, they don't believe it and it will be reported later today that the drug was a prescription drug not steroids.

[pissant]

Baseball does not allow it.

[mainepatsfan]

Manny Who? Sincerely, Jason Bay

That's Jason "Yankee killer" Bay.

[nutmeg]

WHOA...

[yldstrk]

this is ridiculous — it’s a baseball tradition, the horse is already out of the barn, hello

[kellynla]

“He looks like a pot smoker to me?”

Nothing like the clean-cut “pot smoker” CA governor.

[Alberta's Child]

Sounds to me like Scott Boras will go down as the “Steroid Agent” in Major League Baseball.

[misterrob]

And I simply cannot wait until Jeter or Posada takes one in the back as payback for Chambermaid’s immature antics....

[Dr. Ursus]

frying pan for a glove-LOL

[kellynla]

“lets see you keep up that national league recort now?”

“national league recort?”

what’s a “recort?” LOL

[Red Steel]

A 50 game suspension starting now will put Manny back in the game right around the All Star break.

[pissant]

Clean cut pot smoker and steroid abuser

[misterrob]

At some point it will come out on exactly what he took but the rules seem to be pretty clear here on what you can and cannot do. He gets paid enough money to have doctors on top of what substances can and cannot be ingested. Let's see of the union steps up and screams if it is a legitimate script that triggered the positive test.

[GOPsterinMA]

Exactly! And the scumbag would skip the annual spring training visit with the children suffering from cancer. And he refused to go to Walter Reed Hospital to see wounded military there.

Man-Ram should not have got the 2004 WS MVP either - Keith Folke deserved it, no question! This sheds light on why he wanted to skip spring training - to clean out his system. He could have signed the same $45 million deal months earlier.

Up yours Manny, you filthy, rotten cockroach!!!

[libscum]

A thug now living in a “thugocracy” under Barry Zero.

[kellynla]

” I’ll bet it is pot?”

And you’d lose that bet...

[Leisler]

You can’t destroy what you don’t have.

[llevrok]

Got to look at Big Papi too. He’s got a huge upper body. Not normal looking

[mainepatsfan]

And I simply cannot wait until Jeter or Posada takes one in the back as payback for Chambermaid’s immature antics....

Why go after them when A-Rod's in the lineup?

[kellynla]

“50 game suspension starting now will put Manny back in the game right around the All Star break.”

July 3

[gridlock]

He'll need a new nickname. May I suggest "Hair-roids"... Better that "Bitchtits" for ARod...

[mainepatsfan]

A 50 game suspension starting now will put Manny back in the game right around the All Star break.

He'll just see it as another off season.

[mainepatsfan]

Man-Ram should not have got the 2004 WS MVP either - Keith Folke deserved it, no question!

Amen!

[misterrob]

Ortiz is fat.....

[RIGHTWING WACKO FROM MASS.]

Funny how Papi can’t hit anymore. Could he be an ex steroid abuser?

[Buckeye McFrog]

whaddya bet Scott Boros is up to his elbows in this? He was desperately trying to pump-up Manny’s free agent value this past spring and summer.