Rays Slugger Ramirez Tells MLB He's Retiring

NEW YORK (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays slugger Manny Ramirez has notified Major League Baseball that he is retiring after being notified of an issue under MLB's drug policy.

The commissioner's office issued a statement Friday that said Ramirez decided to retire rather than go through MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

The statement did not say whether Ramirez tested positive for a banned substance. He has previously served a 50-game suspension for violating the drug policy while he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

MLB declined to comment further.

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