BOSTON -- All-Star 1B/DH David Ortiz was suspended Saturday for a positive steroids test, becoming the 13th player penalized for violating Major League Baseball's policy.
Ortiz was acquired by the Red Sox from the Minnesota Twins before the start of the 2003 regular season. He will serve a 50-day suspension at the start of next season under the new Major League steroid policy.
"I made a terrible and foolish mistake that I will regret for the rest of my life," Ortiz said in a statement that he read over the telephone to The Associated Press. "I take full responsibility for my actions and did not appeal my suspension. I apologize to the fans, the game, my family and all those people that I let down. I am truly sorry and deeply regret my terrible lapse in judgment."
Ortiz said the positive test occurred after he was acquired by the Red Sox but did not answer other questions.
The substance he tested positive for was stanozolol, a person familiar with the tests results said, speaking on condition of anonymity because drug-test results in baseball are supposed to remain secret.
"It's a veterinary steroid. I think it's primarily used in horses," Dr. Gary Wadler, a professor of sports medicine at New York University and an expert on performance-enhancing drugs. "It's used like any other anabolic steroid. It's basically injectable."
When baseball conducted anonymous survey testing in 2003, there were five positive tests for boldenone, baseball executive vice president Rob Manfred said earlier this year. Paralympic powerlifter Darrell Tyrone Banks was suspended for two years last November by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency following a positive test for boldenone.
Wadler said the steroid also was available under the name equipoise.
An All-Star with Boston in 2004 and 2005, Ortiz hit .300 with career highs of 47 home runs and 148 RBI last season for the Red Sox.
Lawton has a .282 career average with 177 homers and 626 RBI in 9 major league seasons.
His positive test was the fourth announced by the commissioner's office since the end of the regular season, following those of Texas pitcher Carlos Almanzar, New York Mets pitcher Felix Heredia and New York Yankees outfielder Matt Lawton.
Ortiz is the first to test positive under the new steroid policy, which punishes players 50 games for a first offense, 100 games for a second offense, and a lifetime ban for a third offense. It is expected that recently acquired Wily Mo Pena will resume full-time DH duties in Ortiz's absense.
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NO, NOT MY BIG PAPI!
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