Steroids scandal hits home

Ortiz, Ramírez tested positive for performance enhancers in ’03

July 31, 2009|Bob Hohler, Globe Staff

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He said all players submitted to the tests believing they would only be identified by numbers and their names would never become public.

“I think there is a bigger issue than steroids in baseball when we have a grand jury and stuff like that is being leaked,’’ Garciaparra said. “When something that is supposed to be sealed and confidential isn’t anymore, that hurts in all walks of life.’’

The US House Committee on Government Oversight and Reform has no plans to look into the report about Ortiz and Ramírez, the committee’s chairman, Representative Edolphus Towns of New York, said.

Towns, who became chairman earlier this year, did not lead the committee when it held hearings, most recently last year, on steroid use in Major League Baseball. The panel summoned Mark McGwire, Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, and Curt Schilling to Capitol Hill in 2005.

Earlier this year, Miguel Tejada of the Houston Astros pleaded guilty to lying to the committee during 2005 testimony. The FBI also is investigating whether Roger Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner, lied to the committee last year when he denied using steroids or human growth hormone.

Some fans at Fenway yesterday learned about Ortiz’s positive test during the game. And though many fans have expressed concern about his diminishing production, nearly all of them applauded for him to take a curtain call after the latest in his long history of game-changing home runs for the Sox.

Michael Kranish and Michael Whitmer of the Globe staff contributed to this report.

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