Over-Testing of Rodriguez Raises Questions

MLB closing investigation into whether he lied

(NEWSER) - MLB will not discipline Alex Rodriguez after investigating whether he lied to baseball officials about using steroids, the New York Times reports. In March, Rodriguez admitted to investigators and the public that he had used performance-enhancing drugs, but only from 2001 to 2003. After a book published in April suggested he continued using well after that, baseball officials opened an investigation into A-Rod's truthfulness. More»

(NEWSER) - Major League Baseball is in the midst of an injury epidemic, the New York Times reports, and hurting teams want to know why. Injuries are up 26% from 2006—the Mets alone have lost nearly a quarter of their opening day roster. One potential reason: 2006 is when the league began testing for amphetamines, which players had used for decades to mask pain and fatigue. More»

(NEWSER) - Manny Ramirez has tested positive for a banned substance and will be suspended for 50 games beginning immediately, the Los Angeles Times reports. Reports have identified the substance as HCG, a drug commonly used to treat female infertility but also taken to raise testosterone levels at the end of steroid treatments. The substance is intended to boost sex drive and "is not a steroid and it is not human-growth hormone," a source told Yahoo Sports. The suspension runs through July 3 and will cost Ramirez nearly $8 million. More»

During MVP 2003 campaign

(NEWSER) - Alex Rodriguez tested positive for anabolic steroids during his 2003 MVP season, sources tell Sports Illustrated. A-Rod was one of 104 players to test positive that year, in a survey test conducted to determine whether the league needed tougher drug policies. Asked about the results this week, Rodriguez replied: “You’ll have to talk to the union. I’m not saying anything.” More»

League to interview Yankees' Rodriguez about alleged gambling

(NEWSER) - Alex Rodriguez may have wagered more than he thought. The Yankees slugger is facing possible suspension over alleged involvement in high-stakes poker games, reports ESPN . The third baseman is accused of playing in at least two games—one at the Beverly Hills mansion of a record producer that included open cocaine use and the threat of violence when another poker player lost "more than a half-million dollars," according to a person who claims to have been in the game. (Details on that from Star, via Radar .) More»