Manny Ramirez's Drug Boosted Testosterone: Report

Ramirez allegedly took female fertility drugs to build back his testosterone

Manny Ramirez's career may be plummeting -- but this drug could've had his testosterone levels shooting through the roof.

The illegal substance Manny Ramirez tested positive for was reportedly not typically used by athletes to help with their game on the field -- it was a medication often used to regenerate low testosterone levels after a steroid cycle.

A source told Yahoo! Sports the substance, which ESPN reported was a female fertility drug called human chorionic gonadotropin, was not "an agent customarily used for performance enhancing" but is frequently used post-steroid use to boost testosterone.

The drug is similar to Clomid, the substance used by steroid-using sluggers Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi. Ramirez has denied that he took any steroids.

Ramirez got the banned substance through a prescription from a Miami doctor for a medical condition, said the source, who also indicated that the baseball star may seek legal action against the doctor.

"The substance is not a steroid and it is not human-growth hormone," the source told Yahoo.

Artificial testosterone was allegedly also found in Ramirez's system, but sources said the player likely took the testosterone separately from the hCG.

Sports Connection

Connecting you to your favorite North Texas sports teams as well as sports news around the globe.

NBA world erupts after Anthony Edwards' poster on John Collins in Timberwolves-Jazz

First Four history, schedule, how to watch and more to know as March Madness begins

Charles Yesalis, Professor Emeritus of Health Policy and Administration and Exercise and Sport Science at Penn State University, told Yahoo that the drug could be use to battle erectile dysfunction, but that it wasn't the preferred prescription. 

“Testosterone and similar drugs are effective for erectile dysfunction in that they jazz up your sex drive,” Yesalis said. “But far more clinicians accept that affect with Viagra and Cialis. It’s hard for me to understand if it was erectile dysfunction why they would use it.” 

The Dodgers star tested positive for a banned substance and was slapped with a 50-game suspension by Major League Baseball that goes into effect on Thursday.

Contact Us