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Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Ronald Belisario says positive cocaine test was reason for absence

Back with the Dodgers after a year-long absence, reliever Ronald Belisario said he couldn’t leave his native Venezuela last year because he tested positive for cocaine.

Belisario said he didn’t know when he tested positive for the drug or what entity administered the test.

But the hard-throwing right-hander insisted he doesn’t have a cocaine problem, saying he used the drug only once. He said he hasn’t been treated for cocaine addiction.

“I don’t have a problem with any drugs,” he said.

Belisario will have to serve a 25-game suspension at the start of the upcoming season for violating baseball’s drug policy.

Belisario missed part of the 2010 season to receive treatment in a substance-abuse program. He said the treatment he received wasn’t for cocaine use, but declined to specify any further.

“That’s in the past,” he said. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Thanks to J.J. Calefornia for a line on this.

Repoz Posted: February 22, 2012 at 02:03 PM | 18 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: dodgers

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1. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 22, 2012 at 02:12 PM (#4066249)

If Ronald Belisario weren't white, would we forgive him?

2. Harmon "Thread Killer" Microbrew Posted: February 22, 2012 at 02:28 PM (#4066269)

What about Donald P. Belisario, creator of Magmum P.I.? If he were Asian, and accused of a similar crime, would we forgive him?

Of course we would.

3. A triple short of the cycle

Posted: February 22, 2012 at 02:30 PM (#4066271)

If professional athletes can't enjoy some cocaine now and then, who can? The rest of us, that's who! Woohoo.

4. Swedish Chef Posted: February 22, 2012 at 02:34 PM (#4066274)

Belisario said he didn’t know when he tested positive for the drug or what entity administered the test.

Kids, this is what cocaine will do to your brains.

5. cpass Posted: February 22, 2012 at 02:43 PM (#4066279)

Interesting that these guys who test positive for coke all got caught THE ONLY TIME they ever used it. (See also Ron Washington.) Man, what rotten luck!

6. gay guy in cut-offs smoking the objective pipe Posted: February 22, 2012 at 02:45 PM (#4066281)

Kids, this is what cocaine will do to your brains.

No, no. The line is, "Cocaine's a hell of a drug."

7. Bob Evans Posted: February 22, 2012 at 02:52 PM (#4066284)

No, no. The line is, "Cocaine's a hell of a drug."

Well, the smoker of the pipe ought to know.

8. Mike Fast Posted: February 22, 2012 at 03:16 PM (#4066305)

Thanks to J.J. Calefornia for a line on this.

That made me snort.

9. Walt Davis Posted: February 22, 2012 at 03:20 PM (#4066310)

How many drugs is this guy on?

He was in the substance abuse program. That could be almost anything but steroids (speed, coke, any other recreational drug). He couldn't leave Venezuela because he tested positive for coke -- but that doesn't sound like an MLB test or he'd have just been suspended. Maybe a Venuzuelan league test? Would they void a visa for that? Now he's serving a 25-game MLB suspension which means speed for the 2nd time (but not coke I don't think).

So at a minimum speed and coke but possibly a third drug that would fall under MLB's substance abuse program.

He just might have a problem.

10. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: February 22, 2012 at 03:22 PM (#4066313)

Belisario said he didn’t know when he tested positive for the drug or what entity administered the test.

So he just took some random guy's word that he couldn't leave Venezuela?

Edit: Also, WTF is Ronald Belisario?

11. Swedish Chef Posted: February 22, 2012 at 03:35 PM (#4066322)

So he just took some random guy's word that he couldn't leave Venezuela?

That's because he doesn't remember that he spent the year being brainwashed in Hugo Chavez' secret reeducation camp, he's now the Manchurian Reliever, only a phonecall away from (dramatic emphasis) throwing important games.

12. gef the talking mongoose Posted: February 22, 2012 at 04:14 PM (#4066356)

Belisario said he didn’t know when he tested positive for the drug or what entity administered the test.

Poor Barbara Hershey.

13. RJ in TO Posted: February 22, 2012 at 04:18 PM (#4066358)

That's because he doesn't remember that he spent the year being brainwashed in Hugo Chavez' secret reeducation camp, he's now the Manchurian Reliever, only a phonecall away from (dramatic emphasis) throwing important games.

Which is impressive, since the rest of the Dodger staff is years away from throwing important games.

14. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 22, 2012 at 04:26 PM (#4066368)

Belisario said he didn’t know when he tested positive for the drug or what entity administered the test.

I like to picture Ronald Belisario wandering around Venezuela asking everyone "who took my pee?"

15. Anonymous Observer Posted: February 22, 2012 at 04:28 PM (#4066373)

Which is impressive, since the rest of the Dodger staff is years away from throwing important games.

Winner!

16. ValueArbitrageur Posted: February 22, 2012 at 08:03 PM (#4066580)

"I don’t have a problem with any drugs,” he said.

Me too, .... unless I run out.

17. SteveM. Posted: February 23, 2012 at 01:56 AM (#4066769)

I taught classes for Ball State in the Indiana prison system a few years ago. One inmate who flunked his drug test (and consequently was dropped from the program), swore to me that it was a false positive. Why? Because he promised he hadn't touched the stuff since 1992. I found that explanation as far fteched as Belisario's,

18. Pokey Reese's Pieces Posted: February 23, 2012 at 02:41 AM (#4066783)

"It's not a problem if I refuse to talk about it." 12-steps rolled into 1!!

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Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Ronald Belisario says positive cocaine test was reason for absence

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