Manny Ramirez is in trouble for sure

I don't follow much baseball and only became aware of Manny Ramirez as a Boston red Sox player when they finally won the world series.

Now he is disgraced and suspended for 50 games. Is the punishment too harsh? For me it depends if he knowingly and willingly broke the rules. If he did then no its fair, if he didn't then yes it is and that is where the rub lies.

Ramirez says it was a prescription given him by a doctor in Florida for a health issue. Turns out the health issue is erectile dysfunction. He can swing the wood, he just cant make wood. Well that is why men have Viagra and Cialis.

What Manny was taking, is for erectile dysfunction cause by steroid use, the same medication Jose Conceso got busted for when smuggling it in from Mexico, gonadotropins LH and HCG.

These are most commonly used as fertility drugs in women and can be used to raise the testostorone levels in men. Men who lowered their testosterone levels through the use of steroids. Low testosterone levels can cause erectile dysfunction.

Ramireze says he has passed 15 drug tests in the last 5 years, I am sure he has, however drug tests can be beaten. I am not saying he cheated on his drug tests, not having been there, there is no way for me to know.

What I do know its a darn shame the situation he has found himself in. He has refused his right of appeal for the ban for the use of the banned substance. That is the part that does not make sense to me.

Were it me and I had unkowingly taken a banned substance for a medical issue and hd not previously violated the substance rules, I would appeal, not for just the money he will lose or the playing time, but something far more important, my good name and reputation.

Now Ramirez joins the ranks of Jose Concesco, who admitts to steroid use, Mark MCGuire who does not and Barry Bonds.

When will these highly paid superstars get it together, banned substances are banned for a reason, they are performance enhancing and cause health issues.

When will these guys see they are role models to young people and they need to take that responsibility seriously. Their actions influence young kids and they need to influence these kids in a positive way.