Alex Rodriguez Accused of Using Anabolic Steroids as a Teenage Baseball Phenom

May 1

Alex Rodriguez Accused of Using Anabolic Steroids as a Teenage Baseball Phenom

Former Teammate Alleges A-Rod Used Steroids Playing for Miami Westminster Christian

New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez may have used anabolic steroids as a teenage baseball phenom while playing at Westminster Christian High School in Southwest Miami-Dade according to a soon-to-be-published new book about the Major League Baseball star. The story was published in advance of the publication of “Hit and Run: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez” by Selena Roberts which is scheduled to be released on May 19, 2009. Tracy Connor of the New York Daily News was able to obtain an advance copy of the A-Rod expose although no information was given on how she obtained it.

Sports Illustrated reporters Selena Roberts and David Epstein were responsible for breaking the blockbuster story of Alex Rodriguez’ positive tests in February 2009. They revealed that Rodriguez tested positive for testosterone and Primobolan (methenolone) in 2003 as part of the “anonymous” and non-displinary MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program steroid testing program.

Alex Rodriguez admitted taking anabolic steroids initially during an interview with ESPN’s Peter Gammons and subsequently in a press conference in Florida. Rodriguez was critical of Selena Roberts in spite of the fact that the main allegation of steroid use was true. A-Rod expressed suspicions about her plans to release a book expose of his life. “This lady is coming out with all these allegations, all these lies, because she’s writing an article for Sports Illustrated and she’s coming out with a book in May,” said Rodriguez, “And really respectable journalists are following this lady off the cliff. And following her lead. And that to me is unfortunate.”

David Hirshey, Roberts’ editor at HarperCollins, promised several new steroid revelations about Alex Rodriguez. “I assure you she has more drug revelations as well as other news. Not everything that Selena has on A-Rod’s steroid participation has come out yet.” A-Rod’s alleged teenage steroid use is one of those revelations. While it is plausible, and even likely, that Rodriguez used steroids in high school, there is very little proof to support the allegations. A-Rod may have used steroids in high school. But he may not have used them.

Selena Roberts relies on two former students at Miami Westminster Christian High School as proof. One former, obviously less successful, teammate asserts A-Rod was using steroids and that his high school coach knew it. Former Miami Westminster baseball coach denied it; he reported being surprised when the steroid allegations were first revealed. "I was pretty surprised," said Hofman. "I never had any indications of it. With his work ethic and the way he went about his business, baseball was first and everything else was second. I never really felt like he needed it."

Another former Miami Westminster high school student told Selena Roberts that the he was told by the coach’s son that Rodriguez use steroids. The “word” was that A-Rod obtained steroids from the owner of a dog kennel. Although perhaps more credible than Jose Canseco’s propensity to “guess” who is using steroids, these type of tertiary sources are not very credible.

Jose Canseco did everything he could to implicate A-Rod in his book entitled Vindicated published prior to Rodriguez’s admission of steroid use. “Hell, if you ask me, I did everything but inject the guy myself," wrote Canseco. Few people found the allegations credible until Selena Roberts’ provided undeniable proof of doping in February.

Canseco also believes A-Rod used steroids in high school based on workouts he shared with Rodriguez when he was 18 years old. "Was he on steroids in high school?" said Canseco. "I think probably so. I worked out with him when he was 18. He could lift almost as much as I could."

Now that Alex Rodriguez has admitted using anabolic steroids, any new revelations about A-Rod’s “steroid participation” are going to be uncritically accepted by the general public. Of course, it is plausible and likely that Rodriguez steroid history extends well beyond what A-Rod has publicly admitted. The general consensus is that Rodriguez is not being entirely honest about his use of steroids. Did Alex Rodriguez really use anabolic steroids as a high school athlete? We may never know for certain. The failure of athletes like A-Rod to be completely forthright about their performance enhancing drug use only contributes to further suspicions.

Sources

“A-Rod took steroids while with Yankees, and as teen, claims new book,” April 30, 2009

“Who's 'This Lady'? Meet Selena Roberts, A-Rod's Worst Nightmare,” February 10, 2009

“A-Rod admits, regrets use of PEDs,” February 10, 2009

“A-Rod's high school coach 'surprised' by steroid use,” February 9, 2009

“Sources tell SI Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003,” February 7, 2009

By Millard Baker

http://www.millardbaker.com

www.SteroidsRx.com