Another one bites the dust.
Major League Baseball star Manny Ramirez has been suspended 50 games after failing a performance enhancing drug test. Ramirez, one of the biggest stars in baseball, says he took a banned substance given to him by a physician for a “personal health issue.”
Ramirez joins Alex Rodriguez as major MLB stars recently tarnished by the specter of performance enhancing drugs.
The Los Angeles Times originally reported the failed test. MLB Network broke in with a live special report on Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, ESPN planned to air a half-hour SportsCenter special at 3:30 PM ET on Thursday.
Some reaction to the news:
MLB Network’s Harold Reynolds: “It’s a sad blow. The thing about it is Manny’s one of the great characters in baseball. … He brings an excitement, a flavor, a cachet to the game that makes it fun. … This news, to me, it was devastating.”
MLB Network’s Bob Costas: “Anything which is prescribed to you — we don’t know what this supposed non-baseball medical condition was — regardless, anything that would be prescribed to you, you have to consult Major League Baseball … and please, don’t take anything under the supervision of your shady cousin, or your uncle twice removed.”
MLB Network’s Tom Verducci: “It’s a sad day, but it is an indication that [testing] works, and its blind to your name and your resume.”
FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal: “You have to be an idiot in this environment [to test positive]. If you want to cheat, go use HGH. It’s undetectable.”
