Alex Rodriguez

February 7th, 2009 filed in Baseball

Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids during the 2003 season, his last with the Texas Rangers, according to sources. SI.com is reporting that A-Rod, who won the Home Run Title and MVP that season, tested positive for two anabolic steroids, Primobolan and testosterone, in a test that was supposed to be anonymous. Four sources have told this information to Sports Illustrated.

Alex Rodriguez joins a long and substantial list of star baseball players who have been implicated in the steroids scandal, including Jose Canseco, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Mark Mcgwire, Andy Pettite, and Jason Giambi.

From the article on SI.com:

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.”

The article continues :

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.

From ESPN.com:

A-Rod, By The Numbers

Alex Rodriguez belted a career-high 57 home runs in 2002, a year before he won his first of three MVP awards and reportedly tested positive for testosterone and an anabolic steroid as baseball conducted survey testing.

	2002	2003	2004
BA	.300	.298	.286
HR	57	47	36
RBI	142	118	106
SLG	.623	.600	.512

Alex Rodriguez CHEATed by taking Steroids
Chester Cheater

Finally it comes out, the golden boy of Baseball is just like the rest of the “stars” of his era, a CHEATer. While I am not certain that A-Rod can be punished for his actions, due to the circumstances of the tests, it gives me great satisfaction to know that he has been outed as a steroid user, just like the others. Rodriguez was among 104 players who tested positive for steroids, when they knew they were going to be tested, and knew what they were going to be tested for. What idiots. What about all of the substances that they didn’t test for, or all of the players who made sure they got off the juice before the testing? This is still just the tip of the iceburg, but it is the biggest chunk.

Alex Rodriguez BEAT his competitors in Baseball
Billy Beater
Alex Rodriguez has been one of the best players, if not the best player for the past decade. He has no reason to cheat by taking steroids of any other illegal substances. That fact that his play has remained at a high level, even with league imposed testing is proof that he should be above such scrutiny. The tests conducted in 2003 were supposed to be anonymous, and not linked to individual players. As such, these tests did not have the regular safeguards and controls that one could expect. These “results” are hardly official, and are merely rumor and speculation by people who claim to be connected. In the end Rodriguez will be vindicated, and hopefully we can put this entire chapter behind us, for the sake of the game.

So what do you think? Did Alex Rodriguez CHEAT, or BEAT?