Dodger fans are undoubtedly disappointed in their hero Manny Ramirez, who has been suspended from playing for 50 games after the discovery of a banned steroids in his urine. Ramirez is the second highest paid player in baseball. He has, of course, denied using steroids.

Ramirez claims that he was prescribed a medication by a physician for a personal problem and took the drug without knowing that it was on the banned substances list. He has expressed remorse. While he professes his innocence, others have voiced doubt that he took the drug without knowledge that it was a banned substance.

Ramirez joins the ranks of other well-known and popular major league players who have been accused of (or admitted to) steroid use. Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez, and Jose Conseco are but a few of the MLB players who have also faced drug scandals over the past several years.

Under the new rules of MLB, which were adopted in November of 2005, a player who is found to be positive for banned substances is banned 50 games. A second violation will bring a 100-game suspension, while a third violation will result in permanent suspension. These new, harsher rules are more in line with international rules and with NFL rules.

Under these rules, players may be tested randomly. Drugs of abuse, steroids, and steroid precursors are all banned substances which can result in suspension if discovered during testing.

Related Links:

1. ? Video: Students and Steroids from illumistream

2. ? Baseball Steroid Suspensions from the Baseball Almanac

3. ? Steroids: Anabolic and Androgenic from the National Institute n Drug Abuse