Manny Ramirez retired from baseball Friday instead of facing a 100-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug, according to two people briefed on the matter.
Ramirez tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug during spring training and was recently informed of the positive result, according to the people.
In a news release, the commissioner’s office said it had recently notified Ramirez “of an issue under Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.”
The statement added, “Rather than continue with the process under the Program, Ramirez has informed M.L.B. that he is retiring as an active player.”
The commissioner’s office said that if Ramirez wanted to return to baseball, he would have to face discipline for his positive test.
The positive test in spring training was the third time Ramirez tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
In 2009, he was suspended after his urine sample from spring training had elevated levels of testosterone. The New York Times reported later in 2009 that Ramirez was among the roughly 100 players who tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug in 2003, when testing was conducted on an anonymous survey basis.
Ramirez played 66 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010 and 24 games for the Chicago White Sox, hitting .298 with 9 home runs and 42 runs batted in in 90 games.
He signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Rays in January and was 1 for 17 in five games this season.
The Rays said in a statement: “We are obviously surprised and disappointed by this news. We will have no further comment on this matter, and our fans and organization will carry on.”
Source : http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/08/ramirez-retires-after-testing-positive/
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