There is rarely anything that shocks me in this world anymore, and on a scale of 1-10, A-Rod taking steroids comes in at a .25. Jose Canseco called the Yankee slugger a user in his book “Vindicated”, but Rodriguez vehemently denied the allegation. Well today (weird that this broke on a Saturday), SI is saying that he tested positive for the anabolic steroid Primobolan and testosterone back in 2003….
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.
Rodriguez’s name appears on a list of 104 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball’s ’03 survey testing, SI’s sources say. 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.
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.”
While this isn’t surprising, it’s not all that damaging to Rodriguez. Steroid use wasn’t yet banned in Baseball back in 2003, and the samples tested were supposed to be kept anonymous. Obviously, as we’ve seen with Bonds, Giambi, etc., that hasn’t held true. But as we’ve seen with Giambi, Pettitte, etc., a little time just makes everyone forget.
It will still taint A-Rod’s legacy as a hitter, but I don’t think it will hurt him as much as Bonds or McGwire.
Sources tell SI Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003 (Sports Illustrated)
