BOSTON — David Ortiz is the latest star to have his name linked to Major League Baseball's never-ending steroids scandal.
Ortiz and his former teammate, Manny Ramirez, were among the 104 major league players listed as having tested positive for performance-enhancing substances in 2003, lawyers with knowledge of the results told the New York Times.
The two sluggers helped the Boston Red Sox end their historic 86-year championship drought, leading the team to a pair of World Series titles in 2004 and 2007.
Ortiz refused to address the steroid allegations prior to taking the field Thursday against the Oakland Athletics.
"I'm not talking about that anymore," he said. "I have no comment."
Ramirez, who has since joined the Los Angeles Dodgers, returned to the field earlier this month after serving a 50-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy.
Torii Hunter, one of Ortiz's closest friends, told ESPN that he was stunned by Thursday's steroid report.
"This hurts, this really hurts," the Los Angeles Angels outfielder said. "I don't know what to think about this. I guess you just never know what people do in the dark.
"I still love him but at the same time it's tough to hear that. I know it's going to be tough on him and tough on his family once this gets out. It's Big Papi, man, it's the Big Dog of Boston and he helped win two World Series with those guys, with the clutch hits. And now all those things are going to be tainted."
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