More Manny Ramirez: What did he take, and who says so?

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It’s been eight days since Manny Ramirez was suspended for 50 games for violating baseball’s drug policy, and no one has stepped forward to say exactly why.

In the absence of public statements, The Times and other media outlets have relied on anonymous sources. The Times reported today that Ramirez tested positive for an excessively high level of testosterone, leading anti-doping experts to conclude that he must have been using steroids. The suspension was levied, however, after a review of Ramirez’s medical records revealed a prescription for HCG, a substance banned under baseball’s drug policy.

At the excellent local baseball blog 6-4-2, Rob McMillin calls the reliance on anonymous sources a ‘real travesty,’ arguing that Ramirez is ‘being tried in the court of public opinion with a bunch of conflicting allegations coming from anonymous tipsters.’

This is the way the players union wanted it.

Once the union reluctantly agreed to drug testing, negotiations ensued with the commissioner’s office on how to implement the testing program, with the release of information as a particularly sticky point. You can read the resolution in Section 7 of the major league drug policy, which forbids the disclosure of the specific substance that triggers a suspension.

The union does not represent minor league players, so the commissioner’s office unilaterally devises the minor league drug policy. So, when the commissioner’s office today announced a 50-game suspension for Arizona Diamondbacks minor league pitcher Agustin Murillo, the statement specified the suspension was for ‘testing positive for Clenbuterol, a performance-enhancing substance.’ (Read more about the substance here if you’re interested.)

The anti-doping community has long objected to baseball’s policy of not publicly identifying substances that result in suspensions, saying the deterrent effect is minimized.

Baseball players participating in the OIympics and other international competitions are subject to the global amateur standard calling for disclosure of specific substances, as Angels pitcher Derrick Turnbow learned in 2004, when he was announced to have tested positive for steroids that he attributed to ingredients in over-the-counter nutritional supplements. The test was administered in 2003, when baseball players were not subject to punishment for positive drug tests, and Turnbow completed a seven-year major league career with no other issues with performance-enhancing substances. He made the All-Star team in 2006.

-- Bill Shaikin