Say it ain't so

Photo: Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

NYTimes/Michael Schmidt:

Manny Ramirez, the Dodger's All-Star outfielder, was suspended by Major League Baseball on Thursday for violating its performance-enhancing drug testing program. Ramirez said in a statement released by the players’ association that he had been given a medication, not a steroid, that a doctor had recently prescribed him for a personal health issue.“Unfortunately, the medication was banned under our drug policy,” Ramirez said. “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.”

He will be eligible to return July 3.