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Waiting game continues for Papi, Sox
Slugger won't elaborate on positive test until he knows more
By Ian Browne / MLB.com
08/04/09 8:16 PM ET
ST. PETERSBURG -- Red Sox slugger David Ortiz hasn't elaborated yet on his positive test for a performance-enhancing drug in 2003 for one simple reason: He is still waiting to be told exactly what substance he tested positive for.Because all 104 positive test results from 2003 were seized by the federal government as part of an investigation, the information from Ortiz's test result has been hard to obtain. Once the Players Association gathers that information from the government and notifies Ortiz, Boston's designated hitter will discuss the matter in full with the media.
"Unfortunately, the answer is that we need to stay patient and wait, and that's a hard one," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "That's where we're at. I've talked to a lot of people. We need to just wait. I don't know if that's the funnest thing for anybody, but that's what we need to do."
Francona made it clear that Ortiz is not trying to prolong the process.
"It's not him," Francona said. "This is not David right now. We're waiting. We're all on hold."
Does Francona have any idea how much longer it will be before Ortiz gets the information he's looking for?
"No," Francona said. "When the time's right -- I don't know when that is -- we'll talk about it. There are some things I've learned that have surprised me that I didn't know. I don't mean about David. I mean about how things worked. I'm a little surprised at things I never even gave a thought before. We'll deal with it when we're supposed to."
The New York Times reported on Thursday that Ortiz and former Sox slugger Manny Ramirez both tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs during survey testing in 2003. Ortiz said he had no knowledge of the positive test result until he confirmed it from the Players Association later that day.
Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
