1 of 2 | New York Yankees' third baseman Alex Rodriguez stretches during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida on February 18, 2009. (UPI Photo/Kevin Dietsch) |
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NEW YORK, May 2 (UPI) -- A lawyer for Alex Rodriguez declined comment on a report that MLB officials are questioning statements the New York Yankees slugger made to investigators.
Citing people within baseball who were briefed on the situation, The New York Times reported Saturday that Major League Baseball is investigating the accuracy of statements Rodriguez gave regarding his use of performance-enhancing substances, and are trying to determine whether he used such substances more than he has conceded, the sources told the Times.
The sources -- who requested their names not be used because the investigation is still going on -- said the inquiry has been under way since shortly after March 1, when Rodriguez told investigators he used a substance called boli from 2001 to 2003, but that he had not used performance-enhancing drugs since 2003.
He told investigators he had never received such substances from Angel Presinal, a trainer who has been barred from MLB clubhouses since he was linked to steroids in 2002, the Times said.
The accuracy of Rodriguez's statements came into question last week with news reports about a new book, "A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez," by Sports Illustrated writer Selena Roberts -- who broke the story this year that Rodriguez flunked a steroid screening in 2003,. The book, set to be released May 12, alleges Rodriguez used a variety of steroids, supervised by Presinal, and possessed human growth hormone during the 2004 season with the Yankees.
Roberts writes that Yankee teammates kidded Rodriguez about his new-found bulk in 2005 after he put on 15 pounds in the off-season and seemed to develop round pectorals, a condition called gynecomastia, which reportedly can be caused by anabolic steroids.
