By April MacIntyre Feb 18, 2009, 2:55 GMT
Baseball star Alex Rodriguez detailed his performance-enhancing drug usage to the press today, revealing his cousin injected him with an over-the-counter substance to "gain an energy boost."
New York Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman (L) listens as third baseman Alex Rodriguez addresses the media during a press conference at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa Florida, USA, 17 February 2009. Rodriguez admitted during an interview last week that he used a banned substance while with the Texas Rangers. EPA/CHRIS LIVINGSTON
The New York Yankees star admitted the whole affair was a "stupid mistake."
"I knew we weren't taking Tic Tacs," Rodriguez said to reporters today.
The highly-paid player tested positive in 2003.
Rodriguez started his news conference at Steinbrenner Field by reading a prepared statement. At the end, he paused for 37 seconds, turned to his teammates and said "thank you." Sitting in the front row were Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada.
Sports Illustrate exposed A-Rod being on a list of 104 players who tested positive during baseball's 2003 survey. SI identified the drugs causing the positive test as Primobolan and testosterone.
It was federal agents who seized the records and samples from baseball's contractors in April 2004 during the BALCO probe in San Francisco that exposed the list.
The AP reports that the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals considering the government's appeal to overturn lower-court decisions in favor of the players' union.
Your Talkback on this Story