Rafael Palmeiro Denies Steroid Use in Face
of Government's Reform Committee Wrapping
up its Pro
By Staff(AXcess News) Washington - Rafael Palmeiro,
who testified before the House Congressional Committee
investigating Major League Baseball players use
of illegal steroids, denied that he used steroids
in a statement released by the suspended Oriole's
player Wednesday."All my accomplishments
are now tainted, and many people have been hurt.
I deeply regret the pain I have caused my family,
my teammates, my fans and the game of baseball.
I am sorry for the distraction that I have caused
to the Orioles clubhouse and the League,"
said Palmeiro.Stanozolol, a banned substance,
was found inPalmeiro's system in May. In statement
Palmerio was quoted as saying, "Although
I do not know how this substance came into my
body, it is possible that a shot of vitamin B12
I took sometime in April might have been the cause.
"Under questioning by the Major League Player's
AssociationPalmeiro revealed the details of howhe
got the possibly tainted B12 and then had to testify
about the facts to the Congressional Committee
under oath.Since his suspension by Major League
Baseball on August 1, 2005, Palmeiro has said
that his side of the story would be made public.With
the Committee likely now in the final phases of
its work, Palmeiro agreed to provide some of the
detail concerning the events leading up to hissuspension
and the Congressional inquiry.
Every other item that might be to blame for Palmeiro's
failed test - from vitamins to protein drinks
-- was tested, and no steroids were found. The
only item that could not be tested -- and is therefore
suspect - was a vial of liquid, injectable vitamin
B-12 whichhe took in the middle of April 2005.
The B-12 was provided toPalmeiro by a teammate;
it was labeled as B- 12; andhis lawyers said that
hehas always been convinced that his teammate
absolutely believed it to be B-12.
Palmeiro was
required to name that player by the Major League
Baseball Players Association during his arbitration
hearing. Palmeiro's lawyers accused the media
of publishing false information, inferring that
it caused much of the friction and doubt by the
MLB and Congress. "Because the Congressional
Committee's investigation was on- going over the
last three months, the information that has circulated
in public - largely via the media - has been based
almost entirely on inappropriate leaks and uninformed
speculation. As a result, much of what has been
said or written about Rafael - what he did and/or
said - has been either greatly mischaracterized
or just plain inaccurate.
"When he was told back on May 4, 2005 that
he would have to submit to a random drug test
under Major League Baseball's drug policy,Palmeiro
said hehad no concerns about steroids. He immediately
asked to be retested, because he believed that
the test result must have been mistaken. He was
tested one week later and found to have no banned
substances in his body.Nevertheless, the Commissioner
of Major League Baseball on June 10, 2005 suspendedPalmeiro
for 10 days, a decision that ledhim immediately
to file a grievance with Major League Baseball's
Health Policy Committee (HPAC).
HPAC found thatPalmeiro
had a reasonable basis to challenge the results
of the drug test and, on June 16, an arbitration
panel conducted a hearing. Later, on July 14,
that panel heard arguments in the arbitration
case. At the June 16th hearing,Palmerio made it
clear that he had never knowingly taken steroids
and did not know how the banned substance entered
his body. He believed that contamination of the
B-12 was simply the most likely explanation.
At the conclusion of the Baseball arbitration
process, on August 1, 2005,Palmeiro was suspended
because he could not conclusively prove that the
steroid entered his system through the B-12. Nevertheless,
the arbitration panel hearinghis case declared
that "The Panel considers it important to
point out that our decision does not equate to
a finding or belief that Rafael Palmeiro - whose
testimony in many respects is quite compelling
- was untruthful in his testimony before this
panel or any other body."Palmeiro's lawyers
maintain that Dr. Gary Green's testimony in the
arbitration hearingwas incorrect or ill-informed
at almost every point.
The basis of their view
was on the testimony for the defense by Dr. Pinedo's
letter that states, "many people in Latin
America believe that "B- 12 is a source of
energy and aids in strengthening muscles."
B-12 is "widely used among athletes, particularly
baseball players" throughout Latin America."
Dr. Pinedo also relates that B-12 is sometimes
mixed with steroids, which appeared to be finger
pointing toward the Orioles own staff in preparation
for what may turn out to be a long, drawn-out
suit for damages to Palmeiro's career.
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