Manny Ramirez tests positive for PEDs; suspended for 50 games

The Los Angeles Times today reports that Dodger outfielder and one-time Red Sox icon Manny Ramirez has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and has been suspended by Major League Baseball for 50 games, beginning tonight.

 

According to the newspaper, Ramirez is expected to respond by saying the test result stems from his use of a medication received from his family doctor. However, a similar defense did not work for Phillies pitcher (and former Red Sox) J.C. Romero, who tested positive late last year after having taken an over-the-counter nutritional supplement, and is now half way through his 50-game suspension. (Romero, by the way, last week sued the supplement manufacturer.)

 

The Romero situation is important because it involved an active, successful major league player (he won two games in last year’s World Series) who vigorously and repeatedly offered what seemed a plausible explanation and sincere apology for what easily could have been an honest mistake. As this is written, Ramirez hasn’t yet said anything about his particular circumstances, but his public profile is much higher than Romero’s, and I am hoping MLB will hold him to the same compliance standard. Not to do so will cause it to lose all its credibility as an anti-PED enforcer – credibility it has taken a long to time accrue and still isn’t universally accepted.

 

It’s bad enough that two of baseball’s greatest celebrities – Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez – were ‘outed’ in recent weeks. It will be much worse if they are given any kind of pass because of their standing while Romero and other lesser luminaries are left to suffer the consequences.

 

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See other Examiner stories here:

Manny Ramirez suspended for 50 games – rest of the NL West parties

Manny Ramirez test positive for performance-enhancing drugs, suspended for 50 games

Manny Ramirez fails drug test and is suspended. Canseco was right again

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Manny being Manny no longer funny with PED suspension