Jump to content

**A-Rod Tested Positive For Steroids In 2003** [Merged 3X]


Lil Bit Special

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 274
  • Created
  • Last Reply

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/

Sources tell SI Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003

In 2003, when he won the American League home run title and the AL Most Valuable Player award as a shortstop for the Texas Rangers, Alex Rodriguez tested positive for two anabolic steroids, four sources have independently told Sports Illustrated.

Rodriguez's name appears on a list of 104 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball's '03 survey testing, SI's sources say. As part of a joint agreement with the MLB Players Association, the testing was conducted to determine if it was necessary to impose mandatory random drug testing across the major leagues in 2004.

When approached by an SI reporter on Thursday at a gym in Miami, Rodriguez declined to discuss his 2003 test results. "You'll have to talk to the union," said Rodriguez, the Yankees' third baseman since his trade to New York in February 2004. When asked if there was an explanation for his positive test, he said, "I'm not saying anything."

Phone messages left by SI for players' union executive director Donald Fehr were not returned.

Though MLB's drug policy has expressly prohibited the use of steroids without a valid prescription since 1991, there were no penalties for a positive test in 2003. The results of that year's survey testing of 1,198 players were meant to be anonymous under the agreement between the commissioner's office and the players association. Rodriguez's testing information was found, however, after federal agents, armed with search warrants, seized the '03 test results from Comprehensive Drug Testing, Inc., of Long Beach, Calif., one of two labs used by MLB in connection with that year's survey testing. The seizure took place in April 2004 as part of the government's investigation into 10 major league players linked to the BALCO scandal -- though Rodriguez himself has never been connected to BALCO.

The list of the 104 players whose urine samples tested positive is under seal in California. However, two sources familiar with the evidence that the government has gathered in its investigation of steroid use in baseball and two other sources with knowledge of the testing results have told Sports Illustrated that Rodriguez is one of the 104 players identified as having tested positive, in his case for testosterone and an anabolic steroid known by the brand name Primobolan. All four sources spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the evidence.

Primobolan, which is also known by the chemical name methenolone, is an injected or orally administered drug that is more expensive than most steroids. (A 12-week cycle can cost $500.) It improves strength and maintains lean muscle with minimal bulk development, according to steroid experts, and has relatively few side effects. Kirk Radomski, the former New York Mets clubhouse employee who in 2007 pleaded guilty to illegal distribution of steroids to numerous major league players, described in his recent book, Bases Loaded: The Inside Story of the Steroid Era in Baseball by the Central Figure in the Mitchell Report, how players increasingly turned to drugs such as Primobolan in 2003, in part to avoid detection in testing. Primobolan is detectable for a shorter period of time than the steroid previously favored by players, Deca-Durabolin. According to a search of FDA records, Primobolan is not an approved prescription drug in the United States, nor was it in 2003. (Testosterone can be taken legally with an appropriate medical prescription.)

Rodriguez finished the 2003 season by winning his third straight league home run title (with 47) and the first of his three MVP awards.

Because more than 5% of big leaguers had tested positive in 2003, baseball instituted a mandatory random-testing program, with penalties, in '04. According to the 2007 Mitchell Report on steroid use in baseball, in September 2004, Gene Orza, the chief operating officer of the players' union, violated an agreement with MLB by tipping off a player (not named in the report) about an upcoming, supposedly unannounced drug test. Three major league players who spoke to SI said that Rodriguez was also tipped by Orza in early September 2004 that he would be tested later that month. Rodriguez declined to respond on Thursday when asked about the warning Orza provided him.

When Orza was asked on Friday in the union's New York City office about the tipping allegations, he told a reporter, "I'm not interested in discussing this information with you."

Anticipating that the 33-year-old Rodriguez, who has 553 career home runs, could become the game's alltime home run king, the Yankees signed him in November 2007 to a 10-year, incentive-laden deal that could be worth as much as $305 million.

Rodriguez is reportedly guaranteed $275 million and could receive a $6 million bonus each time he ties one of the four players at the top of the list: Willie Mays (660), Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755) and Barry Bonds (762), and an additional $6 million for passing Bonds. In order to receive the incentive money, the contract reportedly requires Rodriguez to make extra promotional appearances and sign memorabilia for the Yankees as part of a marketing plan surrounding his pursuit of Bonds's record. Two sources familiar with Rodriguez's contract told SI that there is no language about steroids in the contract that would put Rodriguez at risk of losing money.

Arguments before an 11-judge panel in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Pasadena are ongoing between government prosecutors and the players' association over the government's seizure of the test results from the Long Beach lab. The agents who collected the material had a search warrant only for the results for the 10 BALCO-linked players. Attorneys from the union argue that the government is entitled only to the results for those players, not the entire list. If the court sides with the union, federal authorities may be barred from using the positive survey test results of non-BALCO players such as Rodriguez in their ongoing investigations.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's somewhat big news, but on the other hand? Who wasn't taking PED and other steroids in the early 2000s. Seriously?

For every 1 they catch, 10 got away with it.

Unless they player in question was dumb enough to lie to a congressional committee or a court of law, this really isn't that big of news.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Rodriguez tested positive for Primobolan and testosterone while with the Rangers

Under the 2003 survey testing, there were no penalties for a positive test

Rodriguez was one of 104 players who tested positive that year

I am sure there are plenty of high profile guys from a lot of teams if the sample the tested from had 104 players test positive. Just another example of how poorly Bud Selig (and his 18 million dollar salary) handled this era of baseball. I bet there are plenty of players from every team on the list. Probably some that would break the hearts of some fans. It now appears everyone did it.

And we'll all still watch the 2009 season with great anticipation.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Why is this stuff even news anymore? Every pro athlete did it... if they didnt they werent a starter... its just what you did to get an edge...

then why does the public and media continue to vilify Bonds, McGwire, Palmeiro, et al.?

If everyone did steroids and its no big deal, open the doors to Cooperstown and stop with the petty crap.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

then why does the public and media continue to vilify Bonds, McGwire, Palmeiro, et al.?

If everyone did steroids and its no big deal, open the doors to Cooperstown and stop with the petty crap.

Sounds good to me... if your not cheating your not trying.

Of course its the MLBs job to try and stop it... but there will always be something... dont act like every single one of Hanks HRs were legit... you know he had some kind of trick up his sleeve...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's somewhat big news, but on the other hand? Who wasn't taking PED and other steroids in the early 2000s. Seriously?

For every 1 they catch, 10 got away with it.

Unless they player in question was dumb enough to lie to a congressional committee or a court of law, this really isn't that big of news.

I agree, its somewhat big news everyone thought the guy was clean. Not surprising though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sounds good to me... if your not cheating your not trying.

Of course its the MLBs job to try and stop it... but there will always be something... dont act like every single one of Hanks HRs were legit... you know he had some kind of trick up his sleeve...

Racism was a great performance enhancer.... :)

all the players in the 60's and 70's took "greenies" but we dont treat them as criminals, we treat them as heroes.

Dont get me wrong.. I dont give a damn if they did or not. I have an issue with the way the media has handled this since the McGwire/Sosa HR race. And if fans and the media didnt realize that McGwire was juicing they are idiots.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yea, uh, maybe I'm not too familiar with Hank, but wtf did he do to illegitimize his record?

If we are to believe that many/most players did 'roids/hgh based on a small sampling of players who have been caught, then we have to follow the same logic and believe that every player in the 60's and 70's were using amphetamines. And "greenies" helped a player... not the same way as roids or HGH, but did help the players be able to play.

Plus we didnt have the media speculation and coverage like we do today.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have an idea: since you guys hate A-Rod so much and many of you still love Soriano, I think the Cubs and Yanks should make a trade.

I'll gladly take your choking juicing third baseman if you take my swing at ****ing everything injury prone left fielder.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have an idea: since you guys hate A-Rod so much and many of you still love Soriano, I think the Cubs and Yanks should make a trade.

I'll gladly take your choking juicing third baseman if you take my swing at ****ing everything injury prone left fielder.

Deal!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have an idea: since you guys hate A-Rod so much and many of you still love Soriano, I think the Cubs and Yanks should make a trade.

I'll gladly take your choking juicing third baseman if you take my swing at ****ing everything injury prone left fielder.

Who loves Soriano?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Now the Yankees deal look worse, because they added all the salary sweeteners as he approached home run record milestones, as if they were going to carry some significance.

Now those milestones carry no significance.

If the Yankees even thought about voiding Giambi's contract, they definitely should A-Rods.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A-Rod is probably, in reality a 40 home run guy a year.

Fantastic numbers for the position he played early in his career, and by old standards HOF worthy.

You wonder where the numbers came from in '05 and '07 now.

Even worse in this story is the news of Gene Orza leaking to players (including A-Rod) when they would be tested.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

When everyone was busy killing Bonds the fact that there was the list of 104 players who failed the 03 roids test out there and sooner or later to leak out.

Mitchell's report last year hopefully put a end to the Bonds witch hunt. If not hopefully this will.

Only thing is Bonds lied....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Now the Yankees deal look worse, because they added all the salary sweeteners as he approached home run record milestones, as if they were going to carry some significance.

Now those milestones carry no significance.

If the Yankees even thought about voiding Giambi's contract, they definitely should A-Rods.

No chance in hell after the money they have just spent. Plus the contract has no language apparently allowing such a move. Freeing up that cash though would allow signing a SS, moving Jete to 3rd and adding Manny.:)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


×
×
  • Create New...