Feb 10, 2009 9:38 am US/Eastern
A-Rod Comes Clean On Steroid Use
Slugger Tells ESPN He Didn't Know What He Was Taking, But Also Admits Drug Use Stretched From 2001-03
Told Couric On '60 Minutes' Back In '07 He Never Took Steroids
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Alex Rodriguez No. 13 of the New York Yankees scratches his head after striking out in the first inning against the Seattle Mariners on Sept. 7, 2008, at Safeco Field in Seattle.
Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images
New York Yankees third-baseman Alex Rodriguez admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs while playing for the Texas Rangers in 2001, 2002 and 2003. The admission came Monday during an interview with ESPN's Peter Gammons.
Rodriguez said during the interview with Gammons that it's "pretty accurate" that he took performance-enhancing drugs in 2001, 2002 and 2003.
"When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure...back then it was a different culture. It was very loose," Rodriguez said during the interview with ESPN's Gammons. "I was young, I was stupid, I was naive. I wanted to prove to everyone that I was worth being one of the greatest players of all time. I did take a banned substance and for that I am very sorry and deeply regretful."
When asked what performance-enhancing drugs he took, Rodriguez responded: "It was such a loosey-goosey era. To be quite honest I don't know what substance I was guilty of using. I'm guilty of being negligent, naive, not asking the right questions. I don't know exactly what substance I was guilty of using."
The 33-year-old All-Star third baseman was regarded by many in baseball as the most likely to break Bonds' record of 762. He's already 12th on the career list with 553 homers, 209 behind Bonds.
Rodriguez hit 52, 57 and 47 homers in his three seasons with the Rangers, winning the first of three AL MVP awards during his final season with Texas, where he received a $252 million, 10-year contract in December 2000.
He joined Jason Giambi and Andy Pettitte among All-Star players who have confessed to using performance-enhancing drugs. Many other players have denied any use.
Barry Bonds, a seven-time MVP, is to go on trial next month on charges he lied when he told a grand jury in 2003 that he never knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs.
Roger Clemens, a seven-time AL Cy Young Award winner, is under investigation by a federal grand jury which is trying to determine whether he lied when he told a congressional committee last year that he never used steroids and human growth hormone.
President Obama was asked about A-Rod during his prime-time news conference Monday.
President Obama said it was "depressing news on top of what has been a flurry of depressing" developments. He said it was unfortunate for the athletes who played it straight.
President Obama, the father of two daughters, said he also was concerned about the message it sends children. He said he hoped that children will realize there are no shortcuts and if you take one, it could tarnish an entire career.
SI.com reported Rodriguez tested positive for Primobolan and testosterone.
Monday's ESPN interview directly contradicted a December 2007 interview with CBS's "60 Minutes," when Rodriguez said, "No" when asked whether he's ever used steroids, human growth hormone or any other performance-enhancing substance.
On Friday, Rodriguez is still expected to attend an event at the University of Miami, which is renaming its baseball field in his honor.
He gave $3.9 million to the school in 2003, the largest gift ever to the Hurricanes' baseball program and money that provided much of the resources needed for renovating the existing on-campus stadium. In return, the baseball complex will be called Mark Light Field at Alex Rodriguez Park.
Despite the scandal, the facility will continue to bear Rodriguez's name, a university official said Monday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the matter's sensitive nature.
Miami baseball players and coaches were not available for comment, spokesman Mark Pray said.
CBS 2's Steve Bartelstein contributed to this report.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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