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THE KRAT BARON
one-eyed willie
Registered: 07/08/03
Posts: 42,409
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Report: A-Rod tested positive in '03
#9754169 - 02/07/09 10:09 AM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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I have only one question. Why was nothing said about this in 2003?
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090207&content_id=3806844&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
Quote:
NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguez tested positive for two anabolic steroids during his 2003 American League MVP season with the Texas Rangers, four sources independently told Sports Illustrated in a report published Saturday.
Rodriguez's name appeared on a list of 104 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball's 2003 survey testing, according to a report on SI.com. That testing was conducted as part of a joint agreement with the MLB Players Association to determine if MLB needed to impose random drug testing for the '04 season.
When approached by Sports Illustrated on Thursday at a gym in Miami, Rodriguez reportedly declined to discuss his 2003 test results.
"You'll have to talk to the union," Rodriguez said. When asked if there was an explanation for his positive test, he said, "I'm not saying anything."
While 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 list of the 104 players who tested positive remains under seal in California.
SI.com reported that 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 said 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.
The SI.com report also indicated, citing three Major League players, that Rodriguez was tipped by MLBPA chief operating officer Gene Orza in early September 2004 that he would be tested later that month. Rodriguez declined to respond to SI when asked about the warning Orza allegedly provided him.
When Orza was asked on Friday in the union's New York City office about the tipping allegations, he told SI, "I'm not interested in discussing this information with you."
John Hart -- the Texas Rangers' general manager during the 2003 season and now a senior advisor with the club -- appeared on the MLB Network on Saturday, saying that he was saddened by the report but not completely surprised.
"I think in the climate that we have today, you don't have much shock anymore," Hart said. "Obviously Alex probably is the best player in baseball. This has always been a special talent and the guy has been putting up Hall of Fame numbers since the day he showed up in the big leagues. It saddens me. I've been in the game for almost 40 years and it hurts a little bit, if in fact this is true."
Hart -- who served as Texas' GM from November 2001 through October 2005 -- said that he believes Rodriguez will be impacted by the SI report as the Yankees' Spring Training camp prepares to open next week.
"Alex is a great kid, he's got a conscience and loves the game of baseball," Hart said. "I think, if anything, Alex tries to be a pleaser in a lot of ways. Looking up at what he's done and his career, I think it's going to affect him. He has the ability at times to tune it out, but he's in a huge media market there in New York.
"It's going to be a huge story, Spring Training is right around the corner, and you know what's going to happen when you show up at camp. I think it's going to be a little bit of an issue."
The revelations concerning Rodriguez follow information that was obtained through Sen. George Mitchell's 20-month investigation into the use of performance-enhancing substances in Major League Baseball. In many ways, the SI report helps to validate the credibility of the Mitchell Report document.
At the time of the Report's December 2007 release, Mitchell advised that the document was not intended to name names, but to paint an accurate picture of the flaws that existed prior to 2004 in baseball's testing program. In subsequent actions, much of what was problematic has been addressed.
Page 24 of the Mitchell Report reads: "Concerns have been raised about the collection procedures used, including allegations that some players received advance notice of testing." The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Barry Bonds' former personal trainer, Greg Anderson, received notice that Bonds would be tested in late May or early June 2004. Bonds was tested on May 28 and June 4 of that season.
In compiling the Report, the Mitchell Commission investigated the allegations that players received advance notice of tests in 2004. Mitchell interviewed personnel from Comprehensive Drug Testing, Inc., the company responsible for sample collection under the Major League Baseball joint drug program, but representatives denied that they provided advance notice to Bonds or anyone else.
The MLBPA had agreed to begin anonymous survey testing in 2003, for the purposes of determining the scope of the steroids problem in baseball. No penalties would be carried, but more than 5 percent of big league players tested positive, triggering real steroids testing to begin in 2004.
In April 2004, federal agents seized records from two private firms involved in the 2003 survey testing -- Comprehensive Drug Testing, Inc. and Quest Diagnostics, Inc. Those warrants sought drug testing records and samples for 10 Major League players connected with the investigation into the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO).
The agents seized data that could determine the identities of 104 Major League players who tested positive during the 2003 "survey testing" -- tests which were intended to remain strictly confidential, with names known only to the lab that conducted them.
In response to the government's actions, MLB and the MLBPA cut a deal. MLB postponed testing of those 104 players until the union notified them that they had tested positive in 2003 and were vulnerable to federal search warrants.
According to the Mitchell Report, Mitchell wrote that between August and September 2004, MLB's executive vice president of labor relations Rob Manfred pressed Orza to notify the players as soon as possible so that they could be tested. By September 2004, all players had been informed.
But one player told Mitchell he received advance notice from Orza that the next round of testing would occur within two weeks. Mitchell could not reveal the player's identity, but confessed steroids dealer Kirk Radomski wrote this year that the player was David Segui.
The program required that each player be tested only once during the 2004 season, and Mitchell wrote that other players may have received similar notice. The Mitchell Commission looked into allegations of other players receiving advance notice, but was unable to include additional confirmation.
SI.com's report is not the first time that Rodriguez has been connected to allegations concerning MLB's drug policy. Each time, Rodriguez has unequivocally denied having used steroids, human growth hormone or any other performance-enhancing substance.
"I've never felt overmatched on the baseball field," Rodriguez told CBS' Katie Couric in December 2007, shortly after the Mitchell Report's release. "I've always been a very strong, dominant position. And I felt that if I did my work as I've done since I was a rookie back in Seattle, I didn't have a problem competing at any level. So, no, [I never was tempted]."
Asked in that "60 Minutes" interview if he witnessed steroid use or had suspicions, Rodriguez responded, "You hear a lot of things. I mean, I came up in 1993. And you heard whispers from the '80s and '90s. But I never saw anything. I never had raw evidence. And, quite frankly, I was probably a little bit too naïve when I first came up to understand the magnitude of all this."
Rodriguez's first comments of Spring Training 2008 raised eyebrows when he told reporters that he was tested "nine or 10 times" for performance-enhancing drugs in '07.
That throwaway remark sent enough red flags up that Rodriguez released a statement later that evening, clarifying that he had exaggerated the number of tests to prove a point and wasn't being specific.
Under current drug testing rules, players must be tested at least twice during the season. There are also provisions for random testing -- though it is unlikely Rodriguez would have undergone that many tests, unless he flunked a test for a stimulant. That would have subjected him to six additional unannounced tests over the following year.
A first positive test for a stimulant is not subject to discipline and is not announced. Rodriguez said then that he has never failed a test that would subject him to additional testing.
Jose Canseco's 2008 book, "Vindicated," also alleged that the former big league slugger introduced Rodriguez to a known steroids supplier identified only as "Max" in the late 1990s.
Canseco did not claim to have seen Rodriguez use performance-enhancing drugs, but wrote that he "did everything but inject the guy myself." His motives were clouded, however, when Canseco freely admitted that he "hates" Rodriguez and it was revealed Canseco and Rodriguez were at odds over a personal matter.
Rodriguez side-stepped questions on the subject in advance of the book's release, saying that it was "over, as far as I'm concerned," and declining further comment.
It has been yet another tumultuous period for Rodriguez, who is entering the second season of his new 10-year, $275 million contract with the Yankees -- one that could pay him more than $300 million if he becomes baseball's all-time home run king. Two sources familiar with Rodriguez's contract told SI.com that there is no language about steroids in the contract that would put Rodriguez at risk of losing money.
Last week, excerpts surfaced from Joe Torre's book "The Yankee Years," in which it is revealed Rodriguez was referred to as "A-Fraud" in the clubhouse during the 2004 season.
-------------------- m00nshine is currently vacationing in Maui. Rumor has it he got rolled by drunken natives and is currently prostituting himself in order to pay for airfare back to the mainland but he's having trouble juggling a hairon addiction. He won't be back for a long while.
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THE KRAT BARON
one-eyed willie
Registered: 07/08/03
Posts: 42,409
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Re: Report: A-Rod tested positive in '03 [Re: zappaisgod]
#9761343 - 02/08/09 04:45 PM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
zappaisgod said: Whatever Rodriguez was doing did not appear to alter his appearance as much as the cases of Sosa, McGwire and Bonds. Nor did he have a sudden leap in production ala Palmiero and those 3.
Maybe he did and maybe he didn't. The whole ongoing process strikes me as pretty horrendous, though, and I would like to see whoever made these accusations have to stand up and face the music for their law breaking. Here is my suggested A-Rod press release:
Quote:
Mr Rodriguez has no intention of responding to these scurrilous rumors spread by nameless and faceless cowards. He has no knowledge of the results of any of these tests but notes that we are well aware of at least one false result from this laboratory as a result of the Bonds case. Further, at the very least, these cowards have broken US law, either by slander or by violating a court order.
Like I said, maybe he did, maybe he didn't but I think he should take a hard line and just not respond so that this kind of heinous behavior might one day stop. Clemens at least had a named accuser to confront.
QFMFT.
I think it's bullshit that all of the major headlines are titled "A-Rod tested positive in 2003". They should read something like "It is rumored by faceless individuals that A-Rod tested positive in 2003".
-------------------- m00nshine is currently vacationing in Maui. Rumor has it he got rolled by drunken natives and is currently prostituting himself in order to pay for airfare back to the mainland but he's having trouble juggling a hairon addiction. He won't be back for a long while.
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THE KRAT BARON
one-eyed willie
Registered: 07/08/03
Posts: 42,409
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Re: Report: A-Rod tested positive in '03 [Re: jewunit]
#9765775 - 02/09/09 01:18 PM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090209&content_id=3811116&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
Quote:
A-Rod admits steroid use in Texas
Three-time MVP 'deeply regretful' for use of performance enhancers
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguez admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs in an interview on Monday with ESPN.
Rodriguez told veteran baseball reporter Peter Gammons that he used steroids "for a period of time" and only when he was with the Rangers. Rodriguez played for Texas from 2001-03 before being traded to the Yankees prior to the '04 season.
"When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure," Rodriguez said. "I felt like I had all the weight of the world on top of me, and I needed to perform -- and perform at a high level -- every day.
"Back then, it was a different culture. It was very loose. I was young, I was stupid, I was naïve. I wanted to prove to everyone that I was worth being one of the greatest players of all-time. I did take a banned substance, and for that I'm very sorry. I'm deeply regretful.
"I'm sorry for that time, I'm sorry to my fans, I'm sorry to my fans in Texas. It wasn't until then that I ever thought about substances of any kind. Since then, I've proved to myself and to everyone that I don't need any of that."
Sports Illustrated reported on its Web site Saturday that Rodriguez tested positive for two anabolic steroids, testosterone and Primobolan, during his 2003 American League MVP season.
"It was such a loosey-goosey era; I'm guilty for a lot of things," Rodriguez told Gammons. "I'm guilty of being negligent, naïve, not asking all the right questions. To be quite honest, I don't know exactly what substance I was guilty of using."
The full interview will be broadcast on the 6 p.m. ET edition of SportsCenter and will be posted on ESPN.com.
Earlier reports Monday said that Rodriguez has been consulting with his long-time representative, Scott Boras, to decide how to respond to the bombshell that pegged him as one of the 104 players who tested positive in Major League Baseball's 2003 survey testing program.
Rodriguez had not commented publicly since the story broke, having been on a short vacation in the Bahamas. The Yankees have so far declined comment.
The alleged positive tests for testosterone and Primobolan came during a season when A-Rod led the AL in home runs, runs scored and slugging percentage. Penalties for positive tests were not in place until 2004, and there is no indication that Rodriguez tested positive anytime after '03.
Boras told Fox Sports on Saturday that even if the SI report is accurate, "It was one season, and since then, Alex has gotten the 'Good Housekeeping' seal the last five years by passing baseball's drug tests."
Boras and Rodriguez had a famous falling out, after the agent leaked word of A-Rod's decision to opt out of his Yankees contract. Rodriguez has said that he was "white as a ghost" when news of the decision broke during Game 4 of the 2007 World Series between the Red Sox and Rockies.
The Yankees had said at the time they would not negotiate with Rodriguez, but with A-Rod desperate to stay in New York, the slugger shunned Boras and personally negotiated aspects of a new 10-year, $275 million contract with ownership.
The slugger has continued to keep Boras as his baseball representative, but he has also looked elsewhere for guidance. In December 2007, Rodriguez signed on with Madonna's agent, Guy Oseary, to explore opportunities to expand his image and brand.
A friend of Rodriguez's told the Post that Boras could be a good person to turn to at this time.
"I feel like he needs help with stuff right now," the friend said. "When they were a tandem, there was more good than bad. For a little while now, it's been one nightmare after another."
Rodriguez does not have to report to the Yankees' Spring Training camp until Feb. 17, but he has a public event scheduled this week. The University of Miami plans to honor Rodriguez on Friday at a rededication of its baseball field, Mark Light Field at Alex Rodriguez Park.
A-Rod donated $3.9 million to the school, which he planned to attend before being selected No. 1 overall by the Seattle Mariners in the 1993 Draft. The Palm Beach Post has reported that the event will go on as planned.
-------------------- m00nshine is currently vacationing in Maui. Rumor has it he got rolled by drunken natives and is currently prostituting himself in order to pay for airfare back to the mainland but he's having trouble juggling a hairon addiction. He won't be back for a long while.
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THE KRAT BARON
one-eyed willie
Registered: 07/08/03
Posts: 42,409
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Re: Report: A-Rod tested positive in '03 [Re: THE KRAT BARON]
#9765800 - 02/09/09 01:25 PM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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I think coming out and admitting it was a good play. He used for a period of time but has been clean for years. Now all speculation is dead and it's time to move forward and go after the motherfuckers who leaked his name. They deserve to go to prison.
-------------------- m00nshine is currently vacationing in Maui. Rumor has it he got rolled by drunken natives and is currently prostituting himself in order to pay for airfare back to the mainland but he's having trouble juggling a hairon addiction. He won't be back for a long while.
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THE KRAT BARON
one-eyed willie
Registered: 07/08/03
Posts: 42,409
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Quote:
Virus_with_Shoes said:
Quote:
"A-Rod would NEVER do juice"
As a few posters in this thread have vehemently claimed and flamed the shit out of those who claimed otherwise. It's hilarious to read their old posts.
I never would have seen this coming and I'm very disappointed that A-Rod has juiced in the past. Yes I used to vehemently believe that he did not juice. So what? Do you have a point you're trying to make or are you just being a typical condescending angst-ridden RS fan?
-------------------- m00nshine is currently vacationing in Maui. Rumor has it he got rolled by drunken natives and is currently prostituting himself in order to pay for airfare back to the mainland but he's having trouble juggling a hairon addiction. He won't be back for a long while.
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THE KRAT BARON
one-eyed willie
Registered: 07/08/03
Posts: 42,409
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Fair enough.
I wouldn't be surprised if David Ortiz is on the list. Schilling on the other hand would have to be an incredible idiot to say the things he did if his name is on that list.
edit: I just don't see why anybody would want to be exposed as being a cheat.
-------------------- m00nshine is currently vacationing in Maui. Rumor has it he got rolled by drunken natives and is currently prostituting himself in order to pay for airfare back to the mainland but he's having trouble juggling a hairon addiction. He won't be back for a long while.
Edited by matt (02/09/09 04:01 PM)
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THE KRAT BARON
one-eyed willie
Registered: 07/08/03
Posts: 42,409
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Re: Report: A-Rod tested positive in '03 [Re: zappaisgod]
#10770431 - 07/30/09 07:01 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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I like what Jeter had to say.
Quote:
Yankees reaction from U.S. Cellular Field to The New York Times report that Red Sox stars David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003:
JOHNNY DAMON
General reaction to today's news: It's another thing that keeps popping up with baseball. That's the problem with it all being withheld, because it seems like every couple of weeks or so we're finding out another player. I had no idea, but I guess he's on that list. Who knows if they're going to keep releasing more and more names? It's definitely not good for baseball.
Should the entire list be released?: It probably should come out. We were hoping we were done with it ... there's constant questions that [reporters] have to ask and some of us will answer. I don't want to have meetings all the time at the locker to talk about this. I want to talk about this year and moving forward and seeing how good our team this year can be. That's what I want to talk about. Unfortunately, this is another big story and David is involved with winning two championships in a town that didn't have a championship for a long time.
Is the 2004 World Series title tainted?: I think if there's a lot more guys ... I won't know that until more and more names come out. The '04 year was special. I know we could not have won without a bunch of the players that we had there. David and Manny were great, but I had probably the best year of my career hitting in the clutch. We had Derek Lowe pitch well, Pedro pitch well, added Schilling. I would have to see if there's more names and then I'd be able to comment on that.
MARK TEIXEIRA
General reaction to today's news: That list, names are going to keep coming out. I agree with everyone else who says just put it all out. It's ridiculous. Just let all the games go out and let everyone deal with it at the same time. Every two months things come out, it's not good for the game. It happened in 2003. Let it all come out, let everyone talk about it for one or two days and then we can move on.
On playing PED-free: I don't pass judgment on anybody. What happened with people in the past or what happens in the future, that's their prerogative. But as a guy who has done things the right way their entire career, I don't want any kid looking at me saying, 'Whoa, did you do something? Were you on a list?' I look at my generation and players like myself, Matt Holliday, Chase Utley. These guys are doing it from 2003 on and doing it the right way. I want kids to look at us and say these guys are great players without using that stuff.
DEREK JETER
General reaction to today's news: Too bad for everyone. Once again, we're sitting here talking about it again. ... You wish that you guys were here asking questions about Buerhle throwing all those innings and we've got to face him, or pennant races, or the trade deadline. Instead, we're talking about this again.
On releasing other names: I'm pretty sure someone will come up with something else. I'll stick to what I said before. Not everyone was doing it. You're talking about 100 people. There's a lot more than 100 people playing baseball. It's unfortunate that we have to sit here and talk about another name a couple of months later. I wish that wasn't the case but unfortunately it's the situation.
ALEX RODRIGUEZ
He's my friend and I care for David.
I have nothing else to say about it.
JOE GIRARDI
It's like ripping a Band-Aid off slowly. It's unfortunate, because we're trying to get this era beyond us and repair the game. The names keep coming out. It just seems to make it more difficult and last longer. It just saddens me that we go through this. I love this game and I love what players have done and what players have been able to accomplish doing it the right way. This era saddens me.
-------------------- m00nshine is currently vacationing in Maui. Rumor has it he got rolled by drunken natives and is currently prostituting himself in order to pay for airfare back to the mainland but he's having trouble juggling a hairon addiction. He won't be back for a long while.
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THE KRAT BARON
one-eyed willie
Registered: 07/08/03
Posts: 42,409
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Re: Report: A-Rod tested positive in '03 [Re: whattheheck]
#10771239 - 07/30/09 09:55 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
whattheheck said: Sure. As soon as I agree to make a lot of money in part based of the public's perception of me, have at. Seems fair to me.
Look, the lying cheaters got caught. They were outed by essentially lying cheaters. Pretty appropriate if you ask me. That's America. Bankers, politicians, union leaders, corporate executives, athletes, are ANY of us surprised when these guys lie and scam and burn us for their gain anymore? I'm not. And I want them ALL to pay. This culture of corruption deserves what it has coming. Let the chickens come home to roost. And that includes me too. I'm comfortable reaping what I have sown. As any REAL man should be non?
Let the show continue. 
Further corruption (what you are advocating) is not going to fix the current corruption you speak of.
-------------------- m00nshine is currently vacationing in Maui. Rumor has it he got rolled by drunken natives and is currently prostituting himself in order to pay for airfare back to the mainland but he's having trouble juggling a hairon addiction. He won't be back for a long while.
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