Sporting News staff reports
Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington tested positive for cocaine in July of 2009. In his first public admission, Washington apologized Wednesday for his behavior, eight months after he told
Washington was subjected to increased drug testing after his positive test. He has passed all of the subsequent tests.
"I made a huge mistake and it almost caused me to lose everything I have worked for all of my life," Washington said at a news conference Wednesday. "I am not here to make excuses. There are none."
Washington said he used cocaine only once and called it "stupid" and "shameful."
Washington reportedly called the commissioner’s office before the test results were revealed and warned MLB officials that the results might come back positive.
Washington’s statement: Read it here | Addition details from Washington’s news conference
MLB managers, coaches and other clubhouse personnel have been subject to drug testing since 2008, when baseball adopted the measure as one of George Mitchell’s recommendations in his report on peformance-enhancing drug use in the sport, according to the SI.com report.
"Any attempt to try to explain it is going to sound like excuses," Washington told the website. "There is no right way to explain something wrong, and I did wrong. Was it tension? Maybe. Anxiety?"
The Rangers accepted his apology when Washington explained that it was a one-time transgression.
"He came forward and said he would resign," Ryan said. "He understood the consequences. We had a lot of discussions and a lot of soul searching on it.
"He stood up to it. We felt like he was sincere and forthright," he said. "We are very disappointed by this. We are upset we were put in this position."
In three seasons as Rangers’ manager, Washington is 241-245. He had his first winning season (87-75) in 2009.
Sporting News staff reports
Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington tested positive for cocaine in July of 2009. In his first public admission, Washington apologized Wednesday for his behavior, eight months after he told
Washington was subjected to increased drug testing after his positive test. He has passed all of the subsequent tests.
"I made a huge mistake and it almost caused me to lose everything I have worked for all of my life," Washington said at a news conference Wednesday. "I am not here to make excuses. There are none."
Washington said he used cocaine only once and called it "stupid" and "shameful."
Washington reportedly called the commissioner’s office before the test results were revealed and warned MLB officials that the results might come back positive.
Washington’s statement: Read it here | Addition details from Washington’s news conference
MLB managers, coaches and other clubhouse personnel have been subject to drug testing since 2008, when baseball adopted the measure as one of George Mitchell’s recommendations in his report on peformance-enhancing drug use in the sport, according to the SI.com report.
"Any attempt to try to explain it is going to sound like excuses," Washington told the website. "There is no right way to explain something wrong, and I did wrong. Was it tension? Maybe. Anxiety?"
The Rangers accepted his apology when Washington explained that it was a one-time transgression.
"He came forward and said he would resign," Ryan said. "He understood the consequences. We had a lot of discussions and a lot of soul searching on it.
"He stood up to it. We felt like he was sincere and forthright," he said. "We are very disappointed by this. We are upset we were put in this position."
In three seasons as Rangers’ manager, Washington is 241-245. He had his first winning season (87-75) in 2009.