Rangers manager Ron Washington tested positive for cocaine last July

[madinmaryland]

Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington tested positive for cocaine during the 2009 season, SI.com has learned.

Washington, 57, has been subject to increased drug testing since his failed test, which was administered by Major League Baseball last July, and he has passed all of his subsequent tests. In deciding to support Washington and retain him as manager, the Rangers accepted his apology as heartfelt and also his explanation that this was a one-time transgression.

"I did make a mistake and I regret that I did it," Washington told SI.com by phone from Surprise, Ariz., on Tuesday night. "I am really embarrassed and I am really sorry."

The Rangers called a team meeting for Wednesday morning at their spring training facility in Surprise, where Washington was to address the incident with the club.

Washington declined to discuss the specific circumstances surrounding his decision to use cocaine because he didn't want his family to hear about it in the media. "Any attempt to try to explain it is going to sound like excuses," he said. "There is no right way to explain something wrong, and I did wrong. Was it tension? Maybe. Anxiety?''

Cocaine generally clears the system in 3-5 days after limited use. (Heavy users could take 10-14 days.) After one-time use, a person usually tests positive for cocaine (or technically a metabolite of cocaine called benzoylecgonine) for only 2-3 days.

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/baseball/mlb/03/17/washington/index.html

[El Supremo]

1. >>>

[madinmaryland]

2. I guess he just wanted to be like the former owner * of the Texas Rangers!

:D

[joeybee12]

3. Probably found it in georgie's old office...n/t

[LisaM]

7. Snap!

Surprised the liberal media didn't point that out.

[Auggie]

4. Huh... I hadn't any idea MLB tested managers

[Onceuponalife]

5. I'm just completely shocked

He was a great teacher and influence while in Oaktown. Everybody loved Wash! I just can't believe it. Using cocaine at 57 years old, how stupid can you be? It just doesn't make sense. But there's no way that was his first time. Is that the lamest excuse ever?

Maybe he was hanging out in the Governor's mansion during those wild coke parties. Oh, wait, that was Jerry Brown in the 70s right? :eyes:

[hughee99]

6. Who says there's no snow in Texas in July? n/t

[Onceuponalife]

8. Now he's owning up to pot and amphetamines usage as a player.

I thought everyone did that in the 70s..this is news?

[El Supremo]

9. Randy Galloway says that Washington was blackmailed by a former employee.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/03/17/2048257/cocaine-blackmail-converge-on.html

If it even matters.