The gum was loaded.
Biogenesis founder Anthony Bosch says he provided Alex Rodriguez with “gummies” — lozenges laced with testosterone — that were taken orally before or during games and undetectable by drug tests in the clubhouse afterward.
In a “60 Minutes” interview that aired Sunday night, Bosch said he received $12,000 a month in cash from the Yankees third baseman to provide him with banned performance-enhancing drugs. But when the relationship soured — amid an investigation of Biogenesis — Bosch said he received a death threat. Rob Manfred, the chief operating officer for MLB, said that threat came from a Rodriguez associate.
Bosch indicated he obtained an assortment of banned PEDs for Rodriguez beginning in 2010, including insulin-like growth factor 1, human growth hormone, peptides and the testosterone-filled gummies.
“[Gummies] are so small you could literally while sitting in the dugout take it, put it in your mouth and people could think it’s sunflower seeds or … a piece of candy or a piece of gum, for that matter,” Bosch told interviewer Scott Pelley.
“Now, all of a sudden, his levels of testosterone are higher. It gives him … more energy. It gives him more strength. It gives him more focus. And in combination with the growth hormone, that combination would make playing the game of baseball a lot easier.”
As for the death threat, Bosch said he was asked by an associate of Rodriguez’s to move to Colombia, where he would be paid at least $20,000 monthly, until the Biogenesis investigation blew over. When Bosch refused to move, he says his ex-girlfriend received a text message in Spanish threatening Bosch’s life.
“I don’t know what Mr. Rodriguez knew,” Manfred said. “I know that the individual involved has been an associate of Mr. Rodriguez for some time.”
Bosch said he’s certain Rodriguez knew about the request he move to Colombia.
“Nothing happens without Alex’s approval,” Bosch said. “I used to be in that inner circle. And nothing happens without him approving.”
Rodriguez on Saturday had most of his 211-game suspension upheld by independent arbitrator Fredric Horowitz, but will now fight his 162-game ban in federal court. Rodriguez’s lawyer Joe Tacopina said a court filing will come on Monday, as Team A-Rod seeks an injunction that would at least temporarily restore the player’s eligibility.
Bosch also said he gave Rodriguez specific instructions on how to provide a urine sample to MLB drug testers.
“You want to start the test and then introduce the urine cup into the stream,” Bosch told Pelley. “And what you want to capture is the middle of the stream, not the beginning or not the end of the stream. That was extremely important because most of the metabolites are either in the beginning of the stream or at the end of the stream.”
Beating the drug tests was “almost a cakewalk,” according to Bosch.
Bosch said he sometimes injected Rodriguez with performance-enhancing drugs because the Yankees third baseman was afraid of needles. Bosch added that Rodriguez became well-versed in the performance enhancing drugs he received.
“Alex cared. Alex wanted to know,” Bosch said. “He would study the product. He would study the substances. He would study the dosages because he wanted to achieve all his human performance or in this case, sports performance objectives. And the most important one was the 800 home run club.”
MLB investigators found evidence of hundreds of text messages between Rodriguez and Bosch. “60 Minutes” said it had 500 of the texts, but none included names of drugs.
The MLB Players’ Association issued a statement Sunday night, blasting Bosch’s “60 Minutes” appearance. Commissioner Bud Selig and Manfred also appeared in the segment.
“It is unfortunate that Major League Baseball apparently lacks faith in the integrity and finality of the arbitrator’s decision and our Joint Drug Agreement, such that it could not resist the temptation to publicly pile-on against Alex Rodriguez,” the statement read. “It is equally troubling … Tony Bosch, MLB’s principal witness, is appearing on the program with MLB’s blessing.”
According to the statement, the MLBPA will consider filing a grievance over the matter.
In a statement, MLB fired back.
“It is ironic that the MLBPA is complaining about MLB’s participation in this program given that Mr. Rodriguez’s lawyer is also participating in the show,” the statement said.
“As to Mr. Bosch’s appearance, he is not controlled by us and is entitled to speak however he chooses about his interactions with Mr. Rodriguez.”
— Additional reporting by Ken Davidoff