Manny's violation was for steroids.
The suspension, technically, was for gonadotrophin, listed as a fertility treatment.
However, the violation was caused by his testosterone levels testing "four to ten times normal" in his spring test. Further testing proved that the testosterone was foreign. This was the clear result of steroid use.
However, Ramirez and Boras argued that a recently identified drug similar to Andro has not yet been banned, and that could have led to the massive testosterone levels. In Ramirez's medical records, turned over following the violation, was the prescription for gonadotrophin. Since that drug is used for either female infertility or male malfunctioning testosterone production, and Manny's levels were through the roof, the only reason to use it would be to restart natural production following a huge steroid cycle. Gonadotrophin is explicitly banned.
Since the gonadotrophin violation was clear, MLB suspended him for that, without the need to argue how Ramirez pumped his testosterone levels up.
The statement that Ramirez was suspended for a non-steroid could be interpreted as technically correct although intentionally misleading. The suspension was caused by steroid use and confirmed through a prescription for a testosterone drug. If he truly was suspended for using a banned substance, not a steroid suspension, it would have been 25 games max.
Steroid user and liar.
