Manny Ramirez, a Dodgers outfielder who was given a 50-game suspension for violating Major League Baseballs drug policy, made his first public comments. During the unscheduled meeting with reporters before the Dodgers game against the Padres, Ramirez refused to elaborate on his initial statement after his suspension was handed down on May 7. He is to return to the dodgers on July 3. “That’s in the past,” he said. “Whatever happened, that’s in the past. I’m coming to play my game and move on. What happened, happened. I spoke to [owner] Frank McCourt, I apologized, I spoke to [manager] Joe Torre, my teammates and I’m ready to move on. I didn’t kill nobody, I didn’t rape nobody. That’s it.”

Ramirez, 37, said in his previous statement when the suspension was given that he was given a banned medication (human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), a female fertility drug) by a doctor for a medical condition. Ramirez could have applied for a therapeutic use exemption but he did not. According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, anti-doping experts said that the presence of HCG in Ramirez test, and the 50-game suspension issued by MLB, is still indicated that Ramirez used steroids.

HCG is not a steroid but is still banned by MLBs drug policy and it was found in his system during a conducted drug test. But a prescription for the drug was found in medical files that were turned over to the league after test during the Spring Training showed a synthetic testosterone level four times normal for an average male. Ramirez also reportedly dropped an appeal because the prescription was conclusive evidence of a violation.

Ramirez however would not address any of these issues. He said that he continues his morning workouts that include running the bases for the first time. “I’m just happy to be back and say hi to the guys,” Ramirez said. “I come in the morning and I run, ran the bases today. It was good. When they go on the road I stay here and work out.” He also said that he will possibly need a week of Minor League games to get game-fit, this is allowed under the terms of the suspension. He added that hes been watching the games of his team since his suspension. Ramirez even called his teammates for some batting tips and made special mention of Juan Pierre, who had an excellent game in his absence. “They’ve been playing great. When I come back, maybe I’m Wally Pipp,” he said, referring to the New York Yankees first baseman who missed a game and was permanently replaced by Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig.

Ramirez also believes that the fans will welcome him back. “I’m happy they support me and love me here and they know I let them down, but I’ll come back and make it up and move on,” he said. “I’ll just come and play every day and play hard and that’s it. Fans say, ‘Hey, we miss you, we’re waiting for you to come back.’ That’s a good thing. I went to Miami, everywhere I go people are crazy with me, ‘Don’t worry about it, man. You go and do your thing and come back better than ever.’ Everywhere I go. What can I do? They love me. Ramirez is also getting a good chance to part of the All Star Games.

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