Alex Rodriguez used the term “food” in text messages as code for performance-enhancing drugs, Biogenesis founder Anthony Bosch told Major League Baseball officials, according to New York magazine.
In a profile of the beleaguered Yankees third baseman — facing a potential 211-game suspension for his involvement with Biogenesis — the magazine reports Bosch turned over the Blackberry he used to communicate with Rodriguez, and experts extracted old messages that referenced “food.”
Bosch told MLB, according to the magazine, “food” specifically meant testosterone and human growth hormone. But Rodriguez insisted to investigators any reference to “food” meant nutrition.
Bosch used the term “meds” in a message to Rodriguez in April 2012, the magazine reported, with Rodriguez responding minutes later: “Not meds dude. food.” MLB’s investigators viewed the exchange as Rodriguez reminding Bosch of their ruse.
But a day before, according to the article, Bosch texted Rodriguez with the question, “Do u think they are going to test?” Rodriguez responded with “Maybe” — and also texted to ask what time he should use the “food” for a 1 p.m. game. Rodriguez, according to the magazine, claimed the question about timing was because he wanted maximum effectiveness from the food at game time. But Bosch said Rodriguez was attempting to avoid detection in a potential test for performance-enhancing drugs.
On April 3, 2012, Rodriguez felt “explosive,” according to a text message. “Awesome,” Bosch replied. “Go with the same protocol.”
The magazine also reports Rodriguez enlisted Andy O’Connell of Guidepost Solutions in an attempt to get Bosch to sign an affidavit denying he had provided MLB players with banned substances.
Rodriguez had earlier given Bosch $25,000 to retain a lawyer, according to the story, but the Biogenesis founder was noncommittal when presented with the affidavit from O’Connell and seemed to want a payout.
Arbitrator Fredric Horowitz is expected to rule in early January on the length of Rodriguez’s suspension. Thirteen other players linked to Biogenesis have already accepted suspensions ranging from 50 to 65 games.
But MLB officials contend Rodriguez’s punishment should be more severe because he has used performance-enhancing drugs longer than the other players and worked to obstruct their investigation.