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NEWS > SPORTS > A-ROD TESTS POSITIVE FOR STEROIDS; YANKEES STILL WITHOUT WORLD SERIES WIN
A-ROD TESTS POSITIVE FOR STEROIDS; YANKEES STILL WITHOUT WORLD SERIES WIN
February 7 2009
New York, NY – New York Yankee third basemen Alex Rodriguez tested positive for anabolic steroids during the 2003 season according to Sports Illustrated. The twelve-time all-star has previously denied taking performance enhancing drugs but a recently leaked report indicates that Rodriguez was amongst 104 players who tested positive during the 2003 season, leaving many in New York to ponder why he hasn’t continued to take them.
“Rodriguez has been a divisive figure in New York and this isn’t going to do much to enhance his reputation, either amongst the fans or amongst his teammates,” said Scrape TV sports analyst Mark Marvins. “He has not been the favourite amongst other players on any teams he has played on and that has led to a similar feeling amongst fans, particularly in New York. The Yankees expect to win and having the one of the highest paid and highest profile players in the league hasn’t brought a World Series to New York. One is left to wonder why he hasn’t continued to take steroids to at the very least show everyone he is making an effort."
According to the report Rodriguez tested positive for two steroids while playing shortstop for the Texas Rangers in a year in which he won his first MVP award. The next season A-Rod was traded to the Yankees and came with high expectations, yet he has been unable to lead the Yankees to another championship. The last World Series win for the Yankees was in 2000.
“The Yankees expect to win. New Yorkers expect the Yankees to win. Aside from the standard of success that the franchise has, they have the largest payroll in the league. They pay for championships and they expect to have them,” continued Marvins. “The A-Rod trade excited the city and the team and the hope was for a World Series but that hasn’t happened. It’s obvious now that Rodriguez had a level of commitment to the Rangers that he hasn’t shown for the Yankees. Maybe it’s the money; maybe it’s the pressure; maybe its age. There was obviously a time when he was willing to do anything it took to win, but no longer. New Yorkers are obviously not going to be very happy.” 
The testing that fingered Rodriguez was considered a test to determine whether or not widespread testing needed to be conducted across the league. Rodriguez is not expected to suffer any disciplinary action from Major League Baseball as there were penalties in place at the time of testing, though steroids have been technically prohibited since 1991.
“Aside from the ethical question of using performance enhancing drugs, there is a severe health risk to taking any kind of anabolic steroid particularly if it is not prescribed by a doctor,” said Scrape TV Health analyst Rebecca Phelps. “Kidney problems, cardiovascular issues, liver failure, degradation of the nervous system, and even increased estrogen can all be side effects prolonged steroid use. There are many reasons performance enhancing drugs have been outlawed in every other major sport and the main one is the sheer danger it presents to users. MLB has had its struggles with enabling testing and punishment for use of illegal drugs but the main one has been apathy, and of course an increase in stadium size.”
MLB suspended testing for performance enhancing drugs during the 2004 season, paving the way for Rodriguez to have success in his first year with the Yankees. The Yankees the ALCS to arch rival the Boston Red Sox who went on to win their first World Series in 86 years.
“A-Rod was expected to be the saviour of the team and for them to lose to, of all teams, the Red Sox put a lot of New Yorkers in a sour mood from which many have not recovered,” continued Marvins. “While no one will ever know if he took steroids that year, whatever he did he didn’t win and that is unforgiveable in New York. A-Rod showed a level of dedication to the Rangers that he simply hasn’t shown to the Yankees and that isn’t going to make anyone happy. He’s going to have to make a significant effort to win over the fans and his teammates after this.”
We received a terse no comment from Rodriguez’s agents. Yankees management is reportedly mulling a needle exchange program.
Alexi Orton, Sports Correspondent
NEWS > SPORTS > A-ROD TESTS POSITIVE FOR STEROIDS; YANKEES STILL WITHOUT WORLD SERIES WIN
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