By April MacIntyre Feb 8, 2009, 23:48 GMT
The well-compensated New York Yankee star Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003, claims Sports Illustrated. The magazine claims Rodriguez tested positive for Primobolan and testosterone while with the Rangers. The information was gleaned from a 2003 survey testing, there were no penalties for a positive test. SI unearthed the data, and Rodriguez was one of 104 players listed who tested positive that year.
The magazine claims Rodriguez tested positive for Primobolan and testosterone while with the Rangers. The information was gleaned from a 2003 survey testing, there were no penalties for a positive test. SI unearthed the data, and Rodriguez was one of 104 players listed who tested positive that year. © Mark Dye / PR Photos
The year 2003 was when A-Rod had won the American League home-run title and the AL Most Valuable Player award as a shortstop for the Texas Rangers.
That same year Alex Rodriguez tested positive for two anabolic steroids, four sources have independently told Sports Illustrated.
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.
Rodriguez is not commenting on the new report.
The MLBPA issued a statement on Saturday, saying "Information and documents relating to the results of the 2003 MLB testing program are both confidential and under seal by court orders. We are prohibited from confirming or denying any allegation about the test results of any particular player[s] by the collective bargaining agreement and by court orders. Anyone with knowledge of such documents who discloses their contents may be in violation of those court orders."
Rob Manfred, MLB's Executive Vice President of Labor Relations, also released a statement on Saturday, saying, "We are disturbed by the allegations contained in the Sports Illustrated news story which was posted online this morning. Because the survey testing that took place in 2003 was intended to be non-disciplinary and anonymous, we can not make any comment on the accuracy of this report as it pertains to the player named."
The MLB's drug policy discouraged steroid usage, yet there were no penalties for a positive test back in 2003.
Rodriguez's testing information was discovered when 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 for that year's survey testing.
Rodriguez finished the 2003 season by winning his third straight league home run title and the first of three MVP awards.
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