Baseball's Steroid Era

Alex Sanchez April 3, 2005

Tested Positive For: Unknown

Comments: "I'm going to fight it, because I've never taken steroids or anything like that. I know I did nothing incorrect. I take stuff I buy over the counter. Multivitamins, protein shakes, muscle relaxants, that kind of stuff."

Jorge Piedra April 11, 2005

Tested Positive For: Unknown

Comments: "It is what it is. In the offseason, I had a few injuries and I took some pills. I didn't know the ingredients would make me test positive, but here I am. I apologize to my family and the Rockies. It happened to me, but I embarrassed them."

Agustin Montero April 20, 2005

Tested Positive For: Unknown

Comments: None

Jamal Strong April 26, 2005

Tested Positive For: Unknown

Comments: None

Juan Rincon May 2, 2005

Tested Positive For: Unknown

Comments: "The details are confidential, and I have asked the players' association to challenge the suspension. I would never knowingly compromise my position within Major League Baseball or jeopardize my relationship with the Minnesota Twins organization or the relationships that I enjoy with my teammates."

Rafael Betancourt July 8, 2005

Tested Positive For: Unknown

Comments: "I am very angry and disappointed with Major League Baseball's decision to suspend me. I am going to file a grievance to clear my name. I am very sorry if this has caused any embarrassment and I apologize to my family, the Cleveland Indians organization, my teammates and all the fans."

Rafael Palmeiro August 1, 2005

Tested Positive For: Stanozolol (Anabolic Steroid)

The Story: In March 2005, Palmeiro emphatically stated before congress that he had never used steroids. Four months later Major League Baseball announced that Palmeiro had been suspended for 50 games after reportedly testing positive for Stanozolo. Palmeiro suggested that the positive test may have been caused by a tainted vitamin B-12 shot he had received from Miguel Tejada. After a congressional investigation, Palmeiro was not charged with perjury.

Comments: "I have never intentionally used steroids. Never. Ever. Period."

Ryan Franklin August 2, 2005

Tested Positive For: Unknown

Comments: "There's got to be a flaw in the system. I have no clue. I tested in [early] May and again three weeks later. The first was positive, the second was negative."

Mike Morse September 7, 2005

Tested Positive For: Unknown

Comments: "In May 2004, I was punished and suspended, which I deserved, for my mistake. I embarrassed myself, my family and my team. I am responsible for the mistake of taking steroids and the positive result was not due to some over-the-counter supplement, protein shake or tainted test.. I am troubled that I will be suspended for the third time despite the fact that the scientific evidence supports that I kept my promise that I would never use steroids again."

Carlos Almanzar October 4, 2005

Tested Positive For: Unknown

Comments: None

Felix Heredia October 18, 2005

Tested Positive For: Unknown

Comments: None

Matt Lawton November 2, 2005

Tested Positive For: Boldenone Undecylenate (Anabolic Steroid)

Comments: "I made a terrible and foolish mistake that I will regret for the rest of my life. I take full responsibility for my actions and did not appeal my suspension. I apologize to the fans, the game, my family and all those people that I let down. I am truly sorry and deeply regret my terrible lapse in judgment."

Yusaku Iriki April 28, 2006

Tested Positive For: Unknown

Comments: None

Jason Grimsley June 2006

Linked To: Steroids (Deca-Durabolin), Prohormones (1-AD), HGH

The Story: In an IRS affidavit, Grimsley says he used steroids throughout his 15 year career, but had used only HGH since MLB instituted its drug testing program in 2004. Grimsley named other players who were users though the names were redacted. Grimsley's admission was released in an affidavit of IRS agent Jeff Novitzky. Grimsley was suspended by MLB for 50 games based on non-analytical evidence that he violated baseball's drug policy.

• Clemens, Pettitte, Tejada, Gibbons, Roberts & Segui Named in Jason Grimsley Affidavit
• Jason Grimsley Affidavit Unsealed, No Clemens, Pettitte, Roberts, Gibbons

Guillermo Mota Nov. 1, 2006

Tested Positive For: Unknown

Comments: "I have no one to blame but myself. I take full responsibility for my actions and accept MLB's suspension. I used extremely poor judgment and deserve to be held accountable.

• Guillermo Mota Suspended 50 Games For Violating MLB's Drug Policy

Juan Salas May 7, 2007

Tested Positive For: Unknown

Comments: None

• Juan Salas Tests Positive for Performance-Enhancing Drug, Suspended 50 Games

Ryan Jorgensen September 7, 2007

Linked To: Unknown

The Story: According to the Mitchell Report, Jorgensen was suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball "based on non-analytical evidence that he had violated the joint program."

Dan Serafini November 27, 2007

Tested Positive For: Unknown

Comments: "While trying to accelerate the healing process of these injuries, I took substances that were prescribed for me by a doctor in Japan. What I did not know at the time was that these substances would cause me to test positive once I returned to the U.S."

• Dan Serafini Suspended 50 Games After Testing Positive For Performance-Enhancing Drug

Eliezer Alfonzo April 30, 2008

Tested Positive For: Unknown

Comments: "I made a mistake, and I want to apologize to my family, my teammates, the fans and the Giants organization. I know what I did was wrong, and now I will pay the penalty. As a father, I now have to look my children in the eye and explain to them that I have made a big mistake, one, unfortunately, that they are also going to have to deal with, as well as me."

• Giants' Prospect Eliezer Alfonzo Suspended 50 Games for Violating MLB Drug Policy

Humberto Cota May 28, 2008

Tested Positive For: Unknown

Comments: "I want to make it clear that I did not use any banned substances in order to improve my performance. In July 2007, I had season-ending surgery performed on my left shoulder. During this past winter, while I was a free agent, my shoulder was slow to heal. I took substances that were prescribed for me by a doctor in Mexico."

• Rockies' Minor League Catcher, Humberto Cota Suspended 50 Games For Violating MLB Drug Policy

Henry Owens November 11, 2008

Tested Positive For: Unknown

Comments: None

• Marlins' Pitcher Henry Owens Suspended 50 Games for Violating MLB Drug Policy

JC Romero January 6, 2009

Tested Positive For: Androstenedione

The Story: Romero's suspension was the result of two failed tests (Aug. 29 and Sept. 19), the second just one month before Romero won games 3 and 5 (the clinching game) of the World Series. Romero had reportedly used 6-OXO Extreme, a supplement he bought over the counter in the United States. Romero was offered a reduced suspension (25 games) that would start at the beginning of the 2009 season if he would admit guilt, but he declined. After the arbitration hearing, held on the first day of the World Series, Romero was again offered the reduced suspension with the condition that he start the suspension immediately and still admit guilt. He declined and was subsequently suspended 50 games for "negligence."

Comments: "I still cannot see where I did something wrong. There is nothing that should take away from the rings of my teammates. I didn't cheat. I tried to follow the rules."

• JC Romero Suspended 50 Games for Failed PED Test, MLB Rules "Negligence"

Sergio Mitre January 6, 2009

Tested Positive For: Androstenedione

The Story: Like JC Romero, Mitre reportedly used an over-the-counter supplement, presumably 6-OXO Extreme, which triggered a positive test for Androstenedione.

Comments: "Although being suspended for 50 games is tough to accept, I think that it is important to understand that I am in full support of drug testing in baseball. I did take the supplement in question and accept full responsibility for taking it. What has been difficult for me to understand is that I legally purchased this supplement at GNC and had no intention nor desire to cheat or to circumvent the system in any way."

• Sergio Mitre Suspended 50 Games for Androstenedione Found in Legal Supplement

Kelvin Pichardo March 23, 2009

Tested Positive For: Unknown

Comments: None

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

Manny Ramirez May 7, 2009

Linked To: HCG, Anabolic Steroids (Testosterone)

The Story: 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 has been banned by MLB since 2008.

Comments: Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue. He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was OK to give me. Unfortunately, the medication was banned under our drug policy. Under the policy that mistake is now my responsibility. I have been advised not to say anything more for now. I do want to say one other thing; I've taken and passed about 15 drug tests over the past five seasons. I want to apologize to Mr. McCourt, Mrs. McCourt, Mr. Torre, my teammates, the Dodger organization, and to the Dodger fans. LA is a special place to me and I know everybody is disappointed. So am I. I'm sorry about this whole situation.

• Manny Ramirez Suspended 50 Games for HCG, Investigation by MLB, Artificial Testosterone
• Manny Ramirez Suspension Breakdown, HCG, DHEA