Dykstra accused of using steroids & gambling

[PETROCK]

In a story posted on the Los Angeles Times' Web site early Sunday morning, former associates of Lenny Dykstra allege he used steroids and participated in illegal gambling while a star outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies.

According to the report in The Times, the men allege in court documents and interviews that in 1993, Dykstra, who finished second in the MVP voting that season and led the Phillies to the World Series, bulked up with the use of steroids and advised his longtime friend and business partner to bet thousands of dollars on select Phillies games with a bookmaker.

Sunday's story said that Lindsay Jones, Dykstra's former partner, is suing Dykstra to regain an interest in their car wash business. In the suit, Jones reportedly said that his bets on baseball were made "on the basis that Lenny would cover all losses, and I would use the winnings to live on."

Dykstra's lawyer, Daniel Petrocelli, is quoted in The Times saying Dykstra "absolutely denies" the allegation, calling it "unsubstantiated" and "a fabricated story from a disgruntled partner."

In addition, The Times reported that Jeff Scott, a Florida bodybuilder and convicted drug dealer, said Dykstra paid him $20,000 over eight years, plus "special perks" to "bulk up." In the report, Scott is quoted as saying he injected Dykstra with steroids "more times than I can count," and that Dykstra increased his use of steroids in Spring Training of 1993 because "it was a contract year."

Dykstra has previously denied using steroids and The Times reported that Petrocelli said the recent allegations were nothing more than a ploy to publicize the lawsuit with the goal of trying to force Dykstra into a settlement.

Dykstra played for both the Phillies and the Mets during his 12-year career. Dykstra, 42, retired in 1998.

The newspaper's report said it had contacted Rich Levin, MLB's senior vice president of public relations, and that Levin said that Dykstra could be subject to a permanent ban from the game if an investigation found that he had advised baseball bets while playing. Levin added, however, that the league was not currently investigating Dykstra, explaining that he has no current connection to the game.

The Times reported that Levin said the league had "conducted a review" in the 1990s and determined that Dykstra had not been involved in baseball betting.

According to the report, though, that review did not include these allegations.

"This is all new," MLB spokesman Pat Courtney told The Times.

Dykstra has had only limited contact with baseball since retiring. He served briefly as a manager in the Cincinnati minor league system, and last year served as an outfield instructor with the Mets during Spring Training.

"I'm not saying we wouldn't conduct [an investigation], but it's our understanding that [Dykstra's] not in baseball at all right now," Levin told The Times. "He's not connected to the Mets."

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050424&content_id=1027098&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

[DireJet38]

Not a suprise to me AT ALL. Read the book "The Bad Guys Won." paints a pretty good picture of amphetamine pill popping, gambling till 5 am on gamedays Dykstra.

[Maxman]

Anyone remember the year Dykstra came to camp much heavier. Like 25 pounds or so. He was all muscle. Yeah, steroids weren't involved in any of that.