Ortiz wants one-year ban for drug users

Feb 16, 2009 - 8:03 PM FORT MYERS, Florida (Ticker) -- Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz thinks that players who violate baseball's drug policy should serve a one-year ban.

"Big Papi" said he believes players are clean now due to the invasive nature of testing and a positive test should warrant such a suspension.

Ortiz, who arrived at the Red Sox spring training facility Monday, told reporters he doesn't think bringing players in front of Congress will solve the problem.

"I think you clean up the game by the testing," Ortiz said. "I test you, you test positive, you're going to be out. Period."

Ortiz also said that players and whole teams should be tested "three or four times a year, that's it."

Ortiz's comments came in the wake of the news that Alex Rodriguez used performance-enhancing drugs from 2001-03 as a member of the Texas Rangers. He applauded Rodriguez for coming clean, but said it further damaged the game's already soiled image.

"I think that the A-Rod situation, it was a little bit tough for the game," Ortiz said. "Talking about the best player all the way around. At the same time, people have to give the guy credit because he came out with what he said at the point of his career where he had done it all."

Ortiz, who managed a mere 23 home runs in an injury-plagued 2008 season, also told reporters that his surgically repaired left wrist is 100 percent.

"I'm feeling fine right now," he said. "I have no problem swinging."