Los Angeles ? Manny Ramirez joined a growing lineup of All-Stars linked to drugs Thursday, with the dreadlocked slugger banished for 50 games by a sport that cannot shake free from scandal.

The Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder was suspended by Major League Baseball, adding a further stamp to what will forever be known as the Steroids Era.

Ramirez said he did not take steroids and was given medication by a doctor that contained a banned substance. A person familiar with the details of the suspension said Ramirez used the female fertility drug HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the banned substance wasn’t announced. HCG is popular among steroid users because it can mitigate the side effects of ending a cycle of the drugs.

Ramirez’s suspension was based not on the test result but rather evidence obtained afterward, a second person familiar with the suspension said, speaking on condition of anonymity because those details were not released. MLB had concluded the spring test was positive, but the person said the players’ association would have challenged the result because of “testing issues.”

Ranked 17th on the career home run list with 533, Ramirez became the most prominent baseball player to be penalized for drugs.

The 36-year-old Ramirez told the Dodgers and fans he was sorry for “this whole situation.”

“Recently, I saw a physician for a personal health issue. He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was OK to give me,” Ramirez said in a statement issued by the players’ union.

“Unfortunately, the medication was banned under our drug policy. Under the policy that mistake is now my responsibility. I have been advised not to say anything more for now. I do want to say one other thing; I’ve taken and passed about 15 drug tests over the past five seasons.”

Ex-manager Ozark dies

Philadelphia — Former Phillies manager Danny Ozark, who led Philadelphia to three consecutive NL East titles from 1976-78, died Thursday. He was 85.

A-Rod to return tonight

New York — Alex Rodriguez will return to the New York Yankees for their game tonight in Baltimore. The team announced that Rodriguez would rejoin the team on Thursday, a few hours after the third baseman played in his final rehab game in Florida. He went 0-for-2 with two walks and put in three innings of defense.

Rodriguez had surgery March 9 on his right hip, but has recovered more quickly than expected.

NFL

Favre says he’s still retired

Eden Prairie, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings’ dalliance with Brett Favre has yet to reach the stage of face-to-face, close-the-deal talks. Maybe it never will.

Vikings coach Brad Childress remained at team headquarters Thursday despite reports he was to travel south for discussions with the supposedly retired quarterback, who lives in Mississippi. Meanwhile, Yahoo! Sports reported that Favre called Childress sometime Wednesday or early Thursday and told the coach he wants to stay retired. Yahoo cited an unidentified source close to the team in reporting that the Vikings won’t sign the 39-year-old quarterback, who owns many of the NFL’s major passing records.

Bengals acquire Rams RB

Cincinnati — The Cincinnati Bengals have obtained running back Brian Leonard in a trade with St. Louis. The Rams received reserve defensive tackle Orien Harris in the deal Thursday. Leonard was the Rams’ second-round draft pick in 2007. He played in 16 games with seven starts as rookie, rushing for 303 yards and catching 30 passes for 183 yards.

Bengals add safety Williams

Cincinnati — The Cincinnati Bengals have signed veteran safety Roy Williams, a five-time Pro Bowl player for the Dallas Cowboys. The eighth-year NFL player was released in March by the Cowboys.

AUTO RACING

Ex-NASCAR driver dead

Richmond, Va. — Virginia police say former NASCAR driver Kevin Grubb died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

GOLF

Crane’s 65 leads Players

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. — Ben Crane should have known what was coming when he rolled in a 30-foot birdie putt on the first hole of the day. He kept right on pouring them in until he had a 7-under 65 and a one-shot lead in The Players Championship.

Tiger Woods couldn’t make a putt outside 4 feet. Phil Mickelson ran off three straight birdies early in his round, then couldn’t keep the ball in play. Defending champion Sergio Garcia opened with a 71.

Crane had a one-shot lead over John Mallinger, Alex Cejka and Richard S. Johnson, with a large group at 67 that included Retief Goosen, David Toms, Camilo Villegas and Scott Verplank.

Woods opened his round with four straight birdie chances inside 12 feet and missed them all. He wound up with a 71, keeping alive his streak of never breaking 70 in the opening round at this elite event. Mickelson hit iron off the 18th tee but it worked out beautifully with an approach to 5 feet for birdie to salvage a 73.

Ochoa leads Michelob Ultra

Williamsburg, Va. — Lorena Ochoa shot a 7-under 64 to take a one-shot lead over Lindsey Wright after the first round of the Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill. Hee-Won Han, Sarah Lee and Minea Blomqvist shot 66s, and Seon Hwa Lee, Na Yeon Choi and Amy Yang had 67s.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Rules suggestions made

Indianapolis — Recommendations regarding defense under the basket and substitute free-throw shooters for injured players have been made by the NCAA’s Men’s and Women’s Basketball Rules Committee.

The recommendation on play under the basket won’t call for a restricted-area arc painted in the lane as the NBA has, but it prohibits a secondary defender from establishing position in the area from the front of the rim to the front of the backboard. A defender must establish position outside that area to draw a charge or player-control foul.

In the proposal of substituting for a free-throw shooter who has been injured, the opposing coach would choose the player to attempt the free throws from the four remaining players on the court.

Parkland hires ex-KU aide

Champaign, Ill. — Nate Mast, a former graduate assistant on Bill Self’s basketball staff at Kansas University, has been named head coach at Parkland College. Mast played for Lon Kruger and Bill Self at Illinois.