A-Rod's DEA Confession: 5 Questions and Answers
New York Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez allegedly admitted to taking performance enhancing drugs during a meeting with the Drug Enforcement Agency earlier this year.
The admission is contained in DEA documents provided to defense attorneys for former University of Miami pitching coach Lazaro "Laser" Collazo, reports ESPN. Collazo and Rodriguez were both implicated in the wide-ranging investigation into Florida's Biogenesis of American clinic, which allegedly supplied performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) to a number of Major League Baseball players, including Rodriguez.
What do you need to know about the most recent twist in the long-running scandal?
- What is the controversy all about? A-Rod was one of 13 players suspended by Major League Baseball in 2013 after being accused of using performance enhancing drugs supplied by the Biogenesis clinic. Rodriguez was suspended for 211 games, though that suspension was later reduced to 162 games by an arbitrator after Rodriguez appealed. Rodriguez filed suit against MLB, characterizing the investigation as a "witch hunt" and has denied using performance enhancing drugs.
- What did Rodriguez say? According to the DEA documents, Rodriguez was granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for admitting that he used performance enhancing drugs from 2010-2012 supplied by Biogenesis. According to the report, Rodriguez used testosterone cream, testosterone gummies, and human growth hormone, which he injected into his stomach.
- How does immunity work? In some instances witnesses for the prosecution may be granted transactional immunity from being prosecuted for testimony which may be self-incriminating, allowing the witness to admit to criminal behavior without fear of prosecution.
- What are the potential consequences for Rodriguez? Rodriguez could be suspended a second time by MLB following these latest allegations, which include the sale and distribution of performance enhancing drugs. A-Rod's previous suspension was for the use of PEDs.
- Is Rodriguez's lawyer right about grand jury secrecy laws? Asked for comment by ESPN, Rodriguez's lawyer cited grand jury secrecy laws in refusing to answer and accused Collazo's attorney of violating those laws. In general grand jury proceedings are confidential, although the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure do permit disclosure of certain matters occurring before the grand jury.
Rodriguez may still end up in criminal court in this case, but as a witness. According to a court filing, prosecutors plan to use Rodriguez as their star witness in the prosecution of others allegedly involved in the Biogenesis investigation, reports ESPN.
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Related Resources:
- Alex Rodriguez's DEA confession: Yes, I used steroids from fake Miami doctor (Miami Herald)
- Alex Rodriguez Sues Major League Baseball Over 'Witch Hunt' (FindLaw's Courtside)
- A-Rod's Lawyer Sues Over $380K in Unpaid Legal Fees (FindLaw's Tarnished Twenty)
- MLB Sues Clinic for Peddling Banned Drugs to Players (FindLaw's Tarnished Twenty)