Ortiz fires back at Shaughnessy following accusation-filled column

Published On May 9, 2013 | By Arielle Aronson

Wednesday was a difficult day for the Red Sox, who lost to the Twins in an embarrassing 15-8 blow-out that cost Boston sole possession of first place in the AL East. The day seemed even more difficult for slugger David Ortiz, as his 27-game hitting streak came to an end thanks to his 0-for-5 showing at the plate. After the game, Ortiz expressed his frustration by calling out Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy over Twitter.

Why would the end of Ortiz’s hitting streak make Shaughnessy a happy man? Well, on Wednesday morning, a Shaughnessy column in the Globe basically accused Ortiz of using performance-enhancing drugs. Shaughnessy recounted in the column an interview with Ortiz from Tuesday in which Shaughnessy grilled Ortiz face-to-face on what was behind Ortiz’s unlikely success at the plate considering Ortiz is a 37-year-old returning from an Achilles injury.

According to Shaughnessy, when asked if Ortiz minded that people are suspicious of Ortiz using steroids, Ortiz guaranteed he was not using steroids.

“I don’t care. I don’t got nothing to hide, bro,” Ortiz told Shaughnessy. “Testing is not my problem. Being tested — I ask to go in to get it done. I got no problem with that. I’m not going to screw everything that I have done in my career because I test positive for steroids. That’s not going to happen.

“I guarantee you that later, you are not going to find out that I tested positive for some [expletive]. It’s not happening. Guaranteed. Guaranteed.”

Unfortunately, Ortiz already has a positive test on his record. Ortiz’s name appeared on a leaked 2003 list of alleged PED users, but Ortiz argued that a legally available nutritional supplement triggered the positive result, not steroids.

Ortiz told Shaughnessy Tuesday that he has probably been tested five times for steroids already this year.

Who do you agree with here, Ortiz or Shaughnessy? Let us know in the comments below.

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About The Author

Arielle Aronson is a sports writer and recent graduate from Boston University, where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Print Journalism Magna Cum Laude. Arielle has a passion for sports cultivated from growing up with two older brothers. She also enjoys playing the piano, reading and traveling.