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A-Rod Says Cousin Injected Him With Substance

Tribune photo by CHRISTOPHER URSO

Alex Rodriguez reads from a prepared statement before taking questions from the media regarding his steroids admission.

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By ANWAR RICHARDSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 17, 2009

Updated: 02/17/2009 02:43 pm

TAMPA - New York Yankees infielder Alex Rodriguez began his press conference in Tampa 25 minutes late, but finally answered questions that were long overdue.

Rodriguez met with over 150 members of the media at Legends Field, with members of the Yankees in attendance, to explain why he used steroids.

He explained that his cousin, who Rodriguez refused to identify, came to him in 2001 and convinced him to start using what he claimed were over-the-counter drugs from the Dominican Republic.

Rodriguez said at the time he did not know it was illegal, although he did not inform team doctors or anyone else on the Texas Rangers' staff that he was injecting himself with a substance to enhance his performance.

Rodriguez said he injected it twice a month for six-months over three years before quitting after sustaining a severe neck injury.

"I didn't think they were steroids," Rodriguez said. "That was a part of being young and stupid. It was over the counter and being basic. It was really amateur hour … we probably didn't even take it right."

Rodriguez was later asked by a reporter why he would take a substance for nearly three years without knowing the effects, and he said it was youth.

"I knew what we were taking wasn't Tic Tacs," Rodriguez said. "I knew it could potentially be wrong."

The three-time AL MVP and baseball's highest-paid player met the media 10 days after Sports Illustrated reported that he tested positive in 2003.

Rodriguez started his news conference by reading from a prepared statement. At the end, he paused for 37 seconds, turned to his teammates and said "thank you." Sitting in the front row were Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada.

Rodriguez blamed his decision to use steroids on his youth and immaturity, even saying he wished he had gone to college.

"I was curious," Rodriguez said. "I was young, 24 or 25 years old. I entered the game when I was 18. For a lot of people, if I had a son I would recommend going to college. I didn't."

What Rodriguez did have was remorse during his press conference.

Rodriguez became emotional when trying to speak to his teammates and apologize to them for his actions. He nearly became tearful when he looked to his right and addressed his teammates, who nodded with their support after he asked for their forgiveness.

"I thank you for being here," Rodriguez said to them. "This has been a difficult two weeks. Without you, it would be impossible."

For years, Rodriguez denied using performance-enhancing drugs. But SI reported he was on a list of 104 players who tested positive during baseball's 2003 survey. SI identified the drugs causing the positive test as Primobolan and testosterone.

On Tuesday, Rodriguez said the drug he injected went by the street name "Bolo, or Bola."

The survey was to remain anonymous, but federal agents seized the records and samples from baseball's contractors in April 2004 during raids in connection with the BALCO probe in San Francisco. Although the agents originally had search warrants for the records of 10 players, they discovered the broader records and came back with additional search warrants.

The list of players is under seal, but those seizures remain in dispute. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals currently considering the government's appeal to overturn lower-court decisions in favor of the union.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

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