There were of few select individuals who I thought would never get caught up in the steroid fiasco (A-Rod didn't make the list, I've always had my suspicions about him for whatever reason). Those names included the likes of Ken Griffrey Jr, Derek Jeter, Randy Johnson, Albert Pujos, Ryan Howard, David Wright to name a few. One name that was once on that list is now no more, Manny Ramirez. Major League Baseball announced that Manny had been suspended for 50 games for testing positive for a performance enhancing drug. Manny says that he did not take steroids and that a prescription prescribed to him by his doctor contained an illegal substance that he was unaware of at the time.
MLB handed down the suspension for the use of hCG, which is said to be similar to chlomid. For those who don't remember chlomid is the drug at the middle of the Balco investigation. According to physicians hCG is a female fertility drug. ESPN analysts say that the drug is commonly used to restore testosterone of players who quit using steroids. Ramirez said that he had a personal health problem (believe to be erectile dysfunction) and that why he was prescribed the drug.
The suspension process began when a drug test submitted by Manny showed that had elevated levels of testosterone which was believed to have come from an artificial source, according to ESPN reports.
Unlike most, I kind of feel sorry for Manny. He is a great player, one of the best of our generation, one of the best hitters ever, point blank period. I do believe and totally agree with the notion of wrong being wrong, you will get no fight from me on that issue. However I do have a feeling that Manny is telling the truth about his situation even though he won't take the opportunity to prove if he is innocent or not. He was one of the few players in MLB who was intriguing enough to hold my attention for an entire baseball game and there are very few of those. So for these 50 games, Manny you will be missed.
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