Report: Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez admitted PED use to feds
New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez admitted to DEA officials in a January meeting that he used performance-enhancing drugs obtained from the Biogenesis clinic, according to a report of Rodriguez's meeting reviewed by the Miami Herald.
According to the report, Rodriguez told DEA agents and prosecutors that he paid Biogenesis founder Anthony Bosch roughly $12,000 per month for PEDs and that Rodriguez's cousin, Yuri Sucart, served as middleman so that Rodriguez would not be implicated if caught.
The meeting and admission reportedly occurred on Jan. 29, several weeks after an arbitrator reduced Rodriguez's suspension from baseball from 211 games to 162 games.
According to a written “report of investigation,” Rodriguez admitted paying Bosch for supplies of testosterone cream, lozenges laced with testosterone (aka “gummies”) and human growth hormone injections.
“Rodriguez injected the HGH into his stomach,” the DEA report stated. “Rodriguez said Bosch told him the HGH would help with sleep, weight, hair growth, eyesight and muscle recovery.”
Rodriguez also described how Bosch gave the ballplayer “tips on how to beat MLB’s drug testing,” according to the DEA report.
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Rodriguez has continued to maintain publicly that he did not use PEDs from Biogenesis.
Rodriguez's testimony was key in building the federal case against Bosch, who pleaded guilty last month to providing PEDs to dozens of high school athletes and MLB players, among others.
Sucart, who Rodriguez has said assisted him in obtaining PEDs when the infielder played for the Texas Rangers from 2001 to 2003, is also facing trial after pleading not guilty to drug charges. It was reported this week that Rodriguez paid Sucart close to $1 million to cover up his steroid use.
Following an MLB investigation sparked by the release of a Miami New Times report about Biogensis and PEDs in January 2013, Rodriguez and multiple other players, including Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun and then-Texas Rangers outfielder/DH Nelson Cruz, received lengthy suspensions.
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Rodriguez's 162-game suspension has ended and he has been reinstated to MLB. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said in September that he expects Rodriguez to be the team's starting third baseman next season.
Rodriguez and several other players were given immunity in exchange for their testimony against Bosch.
- Ben Estes
