Manny Ramirez Suspended for Steroids

by Jon Azpiri | May 7, 2009 at 12:25 pm

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Call it a case of Manny being Manny. Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez has been suspended 50 games for using performance enhancing drugs. Ramirez is now claiming that he did use a banned substance to enhance his performance, but not on the baseball field.

Ramirez was caught with HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) in his system, a drug that, among other things, can boost sexual performance.

A source with intimate knowledge of steroids told ESPN that a male athlete usually uses HCG after a cycle of steroids because steroids often shut down the testosterone-making ability of the testicles. HCG restores their capacity to make testosterone. The source said that some males may use HCG in lieu of steroids also. HCG by itself can provide a substantial boost in the body's own testosterone, and this may provide some performance-enhancement benefits.

Ramirez's name has been added to a growing list of Major League greats who have accused of steroid use, a list that includes Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, and Roger Clemens.

One man who feels vindicated is LA Times columnist Bill Plaschke. Plaschke, who has lambasted Ramirez in the past, appeared on a radio talk show and referred to him as a "knucklehead" among many other things.