Ortiz wants season-long ban for steroid users

[February 17, 2009]  FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- David Ortiz says players who test positive for steroids should be suspended from baseball for the whole season.

The Red Sox designated hitter says the way to clean up the game is through testing and not by taking players to court. Houston Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada pleaded guilty last Wednesday to misleading Congress about performance-enhancing drug use in baseball.

Ortiz also says he feels fine after wrist problems last season limited him to 23 homers. He says he took a few months off from swinging and felt a little strange when he started doing it again. But now he says he feels fine.

Ortiz was at Boston's spring training camp Monday, the reporting day for position players. The first full squad workout is Wednesday.

[Associated Press; By HOWARD ULMAN]

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