Alex Rodriguez Used Steroids In 2003

Sports Illustrated is reporting that Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids while with the Texas Rangers.The report released this morning says, “In 2003, when he won the American League home run title and the AL Most Valuable Player award as a shortstop for the Texas Rangers, Alex Rodriguez tested positive for two anabolic steroids, four sources have independently told Sports Illustrated.”

SI.com writes, “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 report goes on to say that Rodriguez was tipped off to a 2004 test by baseball players union executive Gene Orza.

“Three major league players who spoke to SI said that Rodriguez was also tipped by Orza in early September 2004 that he would be tested later that month. Rodriguez declined to respond on Thursday when asked about the warning Orza provided him,” the story says.

Rodriguez previously has unequivocally denied having used steroids, human growth hormone or any other performance-enhancing substance.

Alex Rodriguez with his agent Scott Boras in 2003.

Rodriguez opted out of his contract and signed a new 10-year, $275 million deal with the Yankees in November 2007. According to the report, it could reach $305 million with incentives that include payments for passing Barry Bonds on top of the all-time home run list (Rodriguez enters 2009 with 553 home runs; Bonds has 762).

Sports Illustrated reports, “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.”

Rodriguez until now has had an off-season dominated by talk of disclosures in Joe Torre’s recently released book. The former Yankee manager wrote of the pressure A-Rod puts on himself and the third baseman’s need to command the stage. Torre said some in the Yankees clubhouse referred to Rodriguez as “A-Fraud,” although Torre made light of that during interviews promoting his book, “The Yankee Years.”

Rodriguez’s results reportedly were seized in April 2004 during the investigation into BALCO, though Rodriguez never has been connected to the California lab. Rodriguez’s tests were performed by one of two other labs used by Major League Baseball for survey testing in 2003.

“Two sources familiar with Rodriguez’s contract told SI that there is no language about steroids in the contract that would put Rodriguez at risk of losing money,” the report says.

Baseball’s drug policy prohibited the use of steroids without a valid prescription since 1991, but there were no penalties for a positive test in 2003.