New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez admitted drug use to DEA

Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees has reportedly admitted to taking performance enhancing drugs to the Drug Enforcement Administration. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Associated Press
A lawyer for the University of Miami's former pitching coach said Wednesday that Alex Rodriguez admitted to federal investigators he used steroids supplied by the owner of a now-closed South Florida clinic.

Attorney Frank Quintero Jr., who represents Lazaro "Laser" Collazo in his defence against charges of conspiracy to distribute performance-enhancing drugs, told The Associated Press that the New York Yankees third baseman confessed to steroids use, according to Drug Enforcement Administration documents provided by the government to defence lawyers.

The Miami Herald first reported Rodriguez's admission Wednesday, saying he met with DEA agents on Jan. 29 at the agency's South Florida field office. Given a grant of immunity from prosecution, Rodriguez told investigators he did use banned substances between late 2010 and October 2012 supplied by Anthony Bosch, who owned the Biogenesis of America clinic in Coral Gables.


Rodriguez has publicly denied any use of banned substances during his time with the Yankees, which began in 2004.  He admitted in 2009 that he used performance-enhancing drugs while with Texas from 2001-03.

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig suspended Rodriguez for 211 games in August 2013 for violations of the sport's drug agreement and labour contract, and the penalty was cut to the 2014 season in January.

Rodriguez proclaimed his innocence and sued in federal court, then withdrew the suit and accepted the penalty.

The Herald reported Bosch told the DEA that A-Rod agreed to pay for steroids for 20 Biogenesis customers after the clinic closed to keep Bosch from talking about his involvement. That could prompt MLB to investigate whether Rodriguez could be suspended again under the sport's drug agreement for violations related to the sale and distribution of PEDs, which are separate from the prohibitions on personal use.

An attorney for Rodriguez did not immediately respond to a telephone call seeking comment. The Yankees declined comment.