New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez used human growth hormone as recently as 2012, according to a report in the Miami New Times. Rodriguez and many other professional baseball players have been linked in a Biogenesis customer spreadsheet. Biogenesis has since shut its doors, with its owner now MIA.
An unnamed employee who worked at Biogenesis gave the Times access to the spreadsheet, documenting whom the company sold HGH, anabolic steroids or testosterone to, all of which are banned substances in Major League Baseball.
Rodriguez is among a list of other players, including Melky Cabrera, who was already suspended for failing a HGH test during the 2012 season. Other players who purchased include Yasmani Grandal, another player who has been suspended (though he will serve his suspension in 2013), Bartolo Colon (who also already served his sentence) and Nelson Cruz, a power hitter who is frequently injured.
A-Rod used a substance called IGF-1, which is an ingredient that Ray Lewis reportedly used to come back from his torn triceps muscle this season. Rodriguez just had hip surgery this month. Though the procedure went well according to the surgeon, recent stories have suggested that Rodriguez might be out for the entire season instead of the six months that are normally expected.
The New York Yankees may try to void Rodriguez' contract because of the finding. A-Rod is owed more than $100 million in the remaining five years of the deal, including special bonuses if he finishes his career as the all-time home run leader.
Rodriguez has 647 career homers, including eight seasons of 40-plus homers. Six of those eight came in order from 1998-2003. A-Rod has played for the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers and Yankees in parts of 19 seasons in the Major Leagues. He admitted to HGH use earlier in his career, but insisted he stopped using the drug in 2003, his final season with the Rangers.
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