Manny Ramirez, the Dodgers’ All-Star outfielder, was suspended by Major League Baseball for 50 games on Thursday for violating its performance-enhancing drug testing program, the Major League Baseball said.

Manny Ramirez has a two-year contract worth $45 million that was signed before the beginning of the season. The suspension will cost him a third of his $25 million salary for this year.

According to a statement released through baseball's players' union, Ramirez said the positive test resulted from a medication prescribed by a doctor, and not from a steroid.

Ramirez, 36, waived his right to challenge the suspension.

“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.”

He will be eligible to return July 3.

Major league baseball