LOS ANGELES – American baseball hero Manny Ramirez has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and has been slapped with a 50-game ban, Major League Baseball announced on Thursday.

Ramirez is the first marquee player to be suspended under MLB's stepped-up drug policy which followed the damaging Mitchell Report investigation into steroid use in baseball.

The 12-time all-star Ramirez, who turns 37 later this month, is also the best player in the Los Angeles Dodgers squad who have won 13-straight games at home and have the top record in baseball.

US sports broadcaster ESPN reported that Ramirez tested positive for the drug human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG.

It is a women's fertility drug but athletes like it because it restarts their natural testosterone level after they stop using steroids, said ESPN.

This is the second doping scandal to hit the sport in the past few months and Ramirez's suspension means that American baseball's two highest paid players have failed drug tests.

In February, New York Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez admitted to using steroids between 2001 and 2003.

Rodriguez is the sport's highest-paid player and like Ramirez is considered one of the greatest home-run hitters of all time.

In 2007, MLB released the 'Mitchell Report' -- a 20 month probe into the use of steroids and human growth hormone (HGH) in the sport.

The report revealed that testing done in 2003 showed that five to seven percent of players tested positive for steroid use.

Ramirez was not named in the Mitchell documents but Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Jason Giambi and Eric Gagne were mentioned in the 409-page report.

Ramirez's ban is effective immediately which means he will not be eligible to return to the Los Angeles lineup until July 3.

Ramirez, of the Dominican Republic, blamed the positive drug test on a doctor, but didn't say whether it was a Dodgers team doctor.

He denied taking steroids and said the problem stems from medication he took for personal use.

"Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue. He gave me a medication, not a steroid," Ramirez said. "I have taken and passed 15 drug tests over the past five seasons."

Ramirez, who will be docked 7.7 million dollars in salary, will start his suspension by missing Thursday's game at Dodgers Stadium against the Washington Nationals.

Under the policy, a player receives a 50-game suspension for a first positive drug test, a 100-game suspension for a second positive test and a lifetime ban for a third positive test.

Dodgers chief executive Jamie McCourt said the club will welcome Ramirez back after his suspension ends.

"We share the disappointment felt by our fans, our players, and every member of our organization," McCourt said. "We support the policies of Major League Baseball, and we will welcome Manny back upon his return."

Ramirez re-signed with the Dodgers as a free agent this spring after finding few other takers willing to take on his huge salary.

Los Angeles eventually signed him to a two-year deal that pays him 25 million dollars in the first year and 20 million dollars in the second.

Ramirez played Wednesday against Washington, hitting a double and driving in two runs as the Dodgers won a major league record 13th straight game at home to the start the season.

In 27 games, he is hitting .348 with six home runs and 20 runs batted in.

In March, Ramirez denied using performance enhancing drugs, saying "he wasn't tempted" to use drugs.

Ramirez apologized on Thursday to management, his teammates and the Dodgers' fans.

"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," Ramirez said.

"I want to apologize to (Dodgers owner) Frank McCourt, Mrs. McCourt, (manager Joe) Torre, my teammates, the Dodger organization and to the Dodger fans. LA is a special place to me and I know everybody is disappointed. So am I. I'm sorry about this whole situation."

Los Angeles have 21 wins and just eight losses for the best record in the majors.

The Dodgers have brought up Juan Pierre from their minor league affiliate to take Ramirez's spot in the lineup.