Ortiz and Manny would have been Doped

Manny Ramírez and David Ortiz, who in 2004 helped the Boston Red Sox to cut a title drought of 86 years in the World Series, in 2003 tested positive for using performance-enhancing substances, reported yesterday by The Daily New York Times.

Ortiz and Ramirez were among the approximately 100 players in the Major Leagues who were positive on what was supposed to be a series of checks confidential, the Times said, quoting unidentified lawyers familiar with the results.

Ramirez, now with the Dodgers, was suspended for 50 games this year following a positive for a banned substance.

According to the newspaper, the new data came to light as a result of interviews with a lot of lawyers and persons related to pending litigation.

The lawyers did not identify the banned substances, the newspaper said.

The Red Sox did not comment.

Before the report published on the website of the newspaper, Ortiz did not want to comment on it, said Major League Baseball on its Web site. Michael Weiner, the union's lead counsel players not to talk about it, "added the MLB.

Baseball and was beaten by the doping case of Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez. The third basis of the New York Yankees admitted in February that he had used steroids during his three years in the Texas Rangers.

The controls were developed in 2003 following an agreement with the players association.