Washington, July 31 (DPA) David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, two giants of US baseball that helped end an 86-year title drought for the Boston Red Sox, tested positive for steroids in 2003.
The New York Times reported that their names are on a now-infamous list of about 100 baseball players that tested positive for performance-enhancing substances in that year.
The results of the 2003 tests – conducted by the league to find out how widespread steroid use was in the sport – were supposed to remain anonymous. The list’s fate remains subject to court action between the US government and baseball’s players union.
Two other names had already been leaked to US media this year: New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez and former Chicago Cubs icon Sammy Sosa.
Ramirez, who was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008, had already been tied to steroids. He tested positive for doping in May and was suspended for 50 games. But Ortiz had never been linked to performance-enhancing drugs until now.
“I’m not talking about that anymore,” Ortiz told the Times when asked about the test. “I have no comment.”
Ramirez and Ortiz will be added to the ever-growing number of major baseball stars who allegedly used steroids over the past decade, a scandal that has severely tarnished the sport’s reputation.
Ortiz and Ramirez were at the heart of the Boston Red Sox batting order from 2003-07, helping the team win World Series championships in 2004 and 2007. The 2004 victory was the storied franchise’s first since 1918.
Baseball has joined many other sports, including athletics, cycling and swimming where doping has been prevalent.
North America’s professional league, Major League Baseball, only imposed mandatory drug tests in 2004, with fines and suspensions of 15 days for the first violation. The testing regime was stiffened in 2006.
Other top players linked to steroid use include: all-time home runs leader Barry Bonds, New York Yankees pitchers Roger Clemens, Andy Petitte and hitter Jason Giambi, and long-time Texas Rangers slugger Rafael Palmeiro and Houston Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada
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