Baseball's Steroid Era

Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz on 2003 Steroid List

2009-07-30T15:09:00.001-04:00

Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball’s 2003 "survey" testing according to the New York Times’ Michael Schmidt. Schmidt, citing "lawyers with knowledge of the results" did not identify for which drug or drugs the Red Sox sluggers tested positive. The information about Ramirez and Ortiz emerged through interviews with multiple

2003 Steroid List Another Hoax? Rotoinfo Publishes "Unconfirmed" List

2009-06-30T18:05:00.017-04:00

Rotoinfo, a fantasy sports information site has published a list of players who supposedly tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball’s 2003 anonymous survey testing (see below). The site describes the list as "rumored" and "unconfirmed" but maintains the source of the list as “trusted.”Deadspin (among others) was quick to discredit the list. It notes that Jason

Sammy Sosa Tested Positive for PED in 2003 Survey Testing

2009-06-16T23:00:00.008-04:00

According to the New York Times, Sammy Sosa was one of the 104 players to test positive for a performance enhancing drug in Major League Baseball’s 2003 supposedly anonymous survey testing. The Times’ Michael Schmidt, cited "lawyers with knowledge of the drug-testing results" but said they did not know for which drug Sosa had tested positive.There has been a legal battle about the 2003 test

Richard Thomas, Florida Based PED Dealer, May Implicate Washington Nationals Players

2009-06-11T22:42:00.004-04:00

A major steroid bust in Florida may implicate players from the Washington Nationals. Former bodybuilder and personal trainer, Richard “Andy” Thomas, arrested for importing and distributing steroids, told police that he sold steroids to players on the Nationals and the National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals. Thomas and his wife, Sandra, were both charged with ten counts of "possession with

Manny Ramirez Suspension Breakdown, HCG, DHEA

2009-05-27T13:15:00.006-04:00

The Los Angeles Times has the complete breakdown of the Manny Ramirez suspension. Ramirez was ultimately suspended for a Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) prescription found after a spring training drug test revealed elevated levels of testosterone. Elevated testosterone levels are discovered through a testosterone-epitestosterone (T:E) ratio test. A normal T:E ratio is 1:1. According to the

A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez Released, MLB Investigating

2009-05-09T21:54:00.006-04:00

Selena Roberts’ much hyped book, A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez, was released May 4. The New York Times had already reported that Major League Baseball began investigating Rodriguez shortly after meeting with MLB officials on March 1. According to the Times, MLB "heightened" its investigation when learning that allegations in the book contradicted what Rodriguez had told them. Roberts

Manny Ramirez Suspended 50 Games for HCG, Investigation by MLB, Artificial Testosterone

2009-05-07T23:54:00.005-04:00

Manny Ramirez has been suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball under its Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. According to ESPN, Ramirez was suspended for using Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) after high levels of testosterone detected during a Spring Training drug test triggered an investigation. HCG is a fertility drug often used by athletes between cycles of steroids and

JC Romero Sues Supplement Maker After Suspension

2009-05-01T22:12:00.002-04:00

JC Romero has filed a lawsuit against Ergopharm, Inc. and Proviant Technologies, the manufacturer and distributor of 6-OXO Extreme, the supplement that Romero claims caused him to test positive for androstenedione (or a derivative) on August 26 2008. Romero appealed his suspension but Major League Baseball ruled Romero "negligent" and his suspension was upheld.Romero’s civil suit states that

Alex Rodriguez Steroids Allegations in New Book, New York Yankees, High School

2009-04-30T15:51:00.007-04:00

The New York Daily News’ Tracy Conner is reporting details from Selena Roberts soon to be released book, A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez. According to Conner, Roberts claims that Rodriguez may have been using steroids as early as high school as well as during his time with the New York Yankees beginning in 2004.Roberts and David Epstein first reported that Rodriguez had tested positive

Ramon Scruggs Investigation, Troy Glaus, Ismael Valdez, Scott Schoeneweis, Todd Greene

2009-04-12T17:55:00.006-04:00

More information from the investigation of Dr. Ramon Scruggs has come to light in a provocative article by The New York Times’ Michael Schmidt. Privy to evidence that is part of the government’s investigation of Scruggs, Schmidt tells the story of Troy Glaus, Ismael Valdez, Scott Schoeneweis, and Todd Greene.Scruggs has been under investigation since at least 2007, when an Albany DA based

Mike Piazza Steroids Allegations in The Rocket That Fell To Earth

2009-03-26T23:01:00.006-04:00

According to Jeff Pearlman’s new book about Roger Clemens, The Rocket That Fell To Earth, former MLB catcher and Clemens foe, Mike Piazza, used steroids and admitted it to at least one unnamed reporter. The book traces Clemens life from being born in Dayton, Ohio, to becoming a Major League superstar and prominent player in the steroid era. The portions about Piazza have received the most press

Giants Prospect Kelvin Pichardo Suspended 50 Games for Violating MLB Drug Policy

2009-03-24T14:28:00.005-04:00

San Francisco Giants prospect, Kelvin Pichardo, tested positive for a performance enhancing drug and has been suspended 50 games for violating MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.Pichardo has never appeared in a major league game but was on the Giants 40-man roster and therefore subject to the major league portion of the drug agreement. He becomes the third player suspended in 2009

Physical Evidence Contains Performance Enhancing Drugs and Roger Clemens DNA

2009-03-12T11:48:00.003-04:00

According to the New York Times, government investigators have found performance-enhancing drugs among the drug paraphernalia Brian McNamee claims he used to inject Roger Clemens with steroids and/or human growth hormone. Federal authorities investigating Roger Clemens on perjury charges have found performance-enhancing substances on the drug paraphernalia that his former trainer said he used to

Barry Bonds Perjury Trial Delayed by Appeal

2009-03-06T13:50:00.006-05:00

The government filed a last-minute appeal of judge Susan Illston’s ruling that some evidence would not be admitted to Barry Bonds’ perjury and obstruction of justice trial which was set for Mar. 2. According to ESPN legal expert, Lester Munson, the appeal could delay the trial over a year and a half.The Administrative Office (AO) of the federal courts, which is the Elias Sports Bureau of the

Alex Rodriguez Press Conference, Boli, Cousin Yuri Sucart, Fallout

2009-03-04T13:43:00.008-05:00

Eight days after Alex Rodriguez admitted using a “banned substance” in an interview with ESPN’s Peter Gammons, Rodriguez held his much anticipated press conference at spring training. This time around, Rodriguez admitted using an “over the counter” substance he called “Boli” that his cousin (later identified as Yuri Sucart) purchased in the Dominican Republic. Rodriguez said that from 2001 to

Alex Rodriguez and Selena Roberts, Accusations, Police Reports, Subpoenas

2009-02-12T13:09:00.006-05:00

Once again in the Steroid Era, a reporter has become part of the story. During his interview with Peter Gammons, Alex Rodriguez said he was "upset" that Selena Roberts, who broke the story (along with David Epstien) about Rodriguez’s positive drug test in 2003, was paid by Sports Illustrated to “stalk” him.Rodriguez claimed that Roberts had been thrown out of his apartment in New York City,

Miguel Tejada Charged With Lying to Congressional Investigators, Pleads Guilty

2009-02-10T20:12:00.016-05:00

Miguel Tejada has been charged with lying to congressional investigators. According to the Washington Post, Tejada is charged with making false statements to congressional investigators about conversations he had with other players about performance enhancing drugs. Tejada will reportedly plead guilty.The charge came in "a criminal information," a document that can be filed only with the

Alex Rodriguez Admits Using Performance Enhancing Drugs from 2001 to 2003

2009-02-09T11:49:00.006-05:00

Alex Rodriguez admitted using a "banned substance" from 2001 to 2003 while playing for the Texas Rangers. Just 48 hours after Sports Illustrated’s Selena Roberts and David Epstein reported that Rodriguez had tested positive for two anabolic steroids, testosterone and Primobolan, in 2003’s MLB “survey” testing, Rodriguez was interviewed by ESPN’s Peter Gammons."When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I

Alex Rodriguez Tested Positive for Steroids in 2003

2009-02-07T12:26:00.010-05:00

According to a Sports Illustrated report, Alex Rodriguez tested positive for two steroids in 2003. The report, by Selena Roberts and David Epstein, says “four sources have independently told Sports Illustrated” that Rodriguez was one of 104 players that tested positive as part of Major League Baseball’s “survey testing” that year. Those results were supposed to be anonymous but were seized by

Mike Bogdan is FBI Informant that Led to Kirk Radomski, Brian McNamee, Mitchell Report

2009-02-05T00:42:00.006-05:00

The Smoking Gun has reported that the FBI informant that led IRS Special Agent, Jeff Novitzky, to Kirk Radomski is former landlord, Andrew Michael Bogdan.Essentially all the new information in the Mitchell Report derived from Bogdan fingering Radomski. Of course from Radomski, came his numerous customers, including Brian McNamee which led to Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte. A 2005 search warrant

Barry Bonds Evidence Unsealed

2009-02-04T23:58:00.006-05:00

As promised, Judge Susan Illston unsealed more than 200 pages of evidence the prosecution intends to use in its case against Barry Bonds. While most of the evidence has been leaked to some degree, seeing it all in one place was staggering. The Associated Press and the New York Times raced though the evidence (separately) adding to their stories as the day went on.The evidence contained the

Barry Bonds Grand Jury News, Positive tests, Bobby Estellela, Jason Giambi, Jeremy Giambi, Greg Anderson

2009-02-04T13:18:00.019-05:00

Barry Bonds is set to go on trial for perjury and obstruction of justice March 2. Preliminary proceedings are under way.The New York Times reported that a urine sample Barry Bonds had provided during Major League Baseball’s anonymous “survey” testing in 2003 had tested positive for “performance-enhancing substances.” The samples were seized in a raid in 2004.According to the report, the samples

Roger Clemens Grand Jury News, DNA Tests, CJ Nitkowski

2009-02-03T16:28:00.004-05:00

News from the Washington DC grand jury hearing evidence about potential perjury charges against Roger Clemens continues to come out.The Associated Press reported that the syringes, gauze pads etc. that Brian McNamee turned over to investigators were being examined at the UCLA Olympic doping lab to see if they contain Clemens’ DNA. According to a report in the Washington Post, the lab has indeed

Roger Clemens Grand Jury Convenes, Kirk Radomski, Brian McNamee Testify

2009-01-19T19:01:00.005-05:00

A Washington D.C. Grand Jury will decide if there is enough evidence to indict Roger Clemens for lying to Congress during the highly publicized hearing in February 2008 that also featured his former trainer, Brian McNamee. Evidence will be presented by assistant U.S. attorney Daniel P. Butler.It is not known exactly who has been or will be subpoenaed but the list could include McNamee, Kirk

Sergio Mitre Suspended 50 Games for Androstenedione Found in Legal Supplement

2009-01-06T18:22:00.005-05:00

New York Yankees’ relief pitcher Sergio Mitre has been suspended for 50 games for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Like JC Romero, Mitre used an over the counter supplement purchased at a major retailer and tested positive for Androstenedione, the steroid precursor made famous by Mark McGwire in 1998 and later banned by MLB. The supplement was said to