MLB punishes Ramirez

MILWAUKEE – The announcement Thursday that Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez was suspended for 50 games for using a banned substance was both good news and bad news for Major League Baseball.

The good news was that the sport’s drug policy obviously is working, with the biggest stars held to the same standard as the last guy on the bench.

The bad news was yet another blow to the game’s already damaged credibility in terms of offensive production in the so-called “Steroid Era.” In other words, everyone compiling big numbers is presumed guilty until proven innocent.

In a statement released by the players’ union, Ramirez said the substance for which he tested positive was a “medication, not a steroid” that was prescribed by a physician for a “personal health issue.”

But sources told ESPN.com and SI.com that the substance was human chorionic gonadotropin, known as HCG, a female fertility drug that athletes sometimes use when coming off a cycle of steroid use to restart the body’s natural production of testosterone.

For that reason, MLB added HCG to its list of banned substances last year. When announcing suspensions, MLB does not release the substance for which a player tested positive.

Ramirez was suspended immediately without pay, which will cost him $7.65 million of his $25 million salary. He is eligible to return to action July 3, barring any postponements on the Dodgers’ schedule in the interim.

Ramirez did not appeal the suspension, saying in his statement: “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.”

With the suspension of Ramirez, the two highest-paid players in the game have been tainted by drug use. Alex Rodriguez, when exposed earlier this year in a Sports Illustrated report, admitted using steroids for a three-year period prior to the start of the current testing program in 2003.

Rodriguez since has been accused of using performance-enhancing drugs before and after that period, calling into question his tremendous accomplishments. Ramirez becomes the most prominent player by far to test positive for a banned substance in this program.

How much does the “outing” of two of the game’s biggest stars hurt the credibility of the game? Commissioner Bud Selig declined to address that subject, because the collective bargaining agreement precludes him from commenting on positive drug tests.

A baseball official familiar with Selig’s thinking said the commissioner was not happy that a big star failed a drug test but was pleased that the game’s drug policy was shown again to be effective.

“He considers it a positive thing,” said the official. “Because no star player had tested positive, some people thought they were being protected. This shows that nobody is above the law.”

Ramirez is the third player suspended this year, following Philadelphia reliever J.C. Romero and New York Yankees reliever Sergio Mitre. Last year, only two major leaguers were suspended – San Francisco catcher Elizier Alfonzo and Colorado catcher Humberto Coto.

The loss of Ramirez is a big blow for the Dodgers, who had forged the best record (21-8) in the majors while establishing a mark by winning their first 13 games at home.

Ramirez, who will be 37 on May 30, is 17th on the all-time list with 533 home runs. He was batting .348 with six homers and 20 RBIs in 27 games at the time of the suspension.

Ramirez was traded to the Dodgers before the deadline last July from Boston, where he had worn out his welcome with erratic behavior. He led Los Angeles to the playoffs and was signed to a new two-year deal late in spring training.

As for the game’s image continuing to be tarnished by top players being exposed as cheaters, Milwaukee Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash said, “It’s concerning, no question. You can’t make it go away.

“Procedures are in place to address these issues, but I understand the mob mentality when news like this comes out. We just have to keep in mind that the overall number (of positive tests) is very minute.”