• Submitted by: manso
• Sports
• 04 / 10 / 2011

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By: Ray. Santo Domingo, Apr 10 (Prensa Latina) There is a great deal of sorrow among baseball fans in the Dominican Republic following the early retirement of Major League baseball player Manuel (Manny) Ramirez due to testing positive for doping.

The outstanding Dominican player tested positive for banned substances three consecutive times, leading to a 100-game suspension.

But Ramirez, 39, threw in the towel and preferred to drugs to entering a rehabilitation program. Instead of accepting the treatment he was offered, Ramirez told the MLB commission he would retire from active play.

In 2009, Manny complied with a 50-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance.

He had signed a one-year two-million-dollar contract this year, and had a batting average of .059, inconceivable for a player of his stature.

Manny started his major league career in 1993, and had his best season in 2000, with .351 average playing for the Boston Red Sox.

In total, Manny Ramirez batted in 1,831 runs, had a lifetime average of .312, and hit 555 home runs.