Rafael Palmeiro, the Baltimore Orioles slugger who denied taking steroids before a congressional committee in March and then took part in a program designed to educate youngsters on the dangers of the drug, was suspended Monday for 10 days for violating baseball’s steroids policy.
Less than three weeks after becoming only the fourth player in history with at least 3,000 hits and 500 home runs, Palmeiro became the highest-profile player suspended under the joint drug agreement between the players’ union and Major League Baseball.
In a conference call with reporters Monday, Palmeiro denied knowingly taking steroids, implying he had consumed over-the-counter dietary supplements tainted by a banned performance-enhancing drug.
He claimed he subsequently became a victim of the grievance and arbitration process drawn into the agreement, what he called, “the heavy burden imposed on players who test positive under the new drug policy.”
In March, while under oath before the House Government Reform Committee, Palmeiro said he supported the current policy and would even support a program that tracks the much stricter Olympics standards.
On that afternoon, he sat before the committee, pointed his finger defiantly, and said, “I have never used steroids. Period. I do not know how to say it any more clearly than that. Never.”
Five months later, he echoed those remarks, saying, “I have never intentionally used steroids. Never. Ever. Period.”
His suspension, which will cost him $163,934 of his $3 million salary, took effect with Monday’s game against the White Sox.
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Q&A
How does Palmeiro explain his positive test?
Palmeiro said he can’t get into specifics because of an “order of the independent arbitrator” who denied his appeal of the suspension. He admitted he “wasn’t able to explain … how the banned substance entered my body” and he apologized to the league, teammates “and, most of all, my fans.”
What about the dietary supplements?
Palmeiro implied that over-the-counter supplements he took may have tested positive. He said he hopes his suspension educates players to be more careful about what they put in their bodies.
Gary Wadler, a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency, said he thinks Palmeiro probably tested positive for nandrolone, contained in some nutritional supplements.
“The manufacturers of dietary supplements have problems with contamination. … Someone might take a protein powder, and the next thing they know, they show up positive,” Wadler said. “It’s a very possible scenario.”
Did Palmeiro lie to Congress?
He emphatically denied it: “Why would I do this in a year when I went in front of Congress and I testified? Why would I do this during a season where I was going to get to 3,000 hits? It just makes no sense. I’m not a crazy person.”
Could he be prosecuted for perjury?
Lawmakers could pursue charges, but that’s exceedingly rare, experts say.
What does this mean for baseball?
Congress criticized the steroids policy as weak. Commissioner Bud Selig has proposed much tougher penalties–50 games for a first offense, 100 games for a second and a lifetime ban for a third.
What did Jose Canseco’s book say?
“I sat down with Rafael Palmeiro, Juan Gonzalez and Ivan Rodriguez, and educated them about steroids. I was injecting all three of them … until they became more familiar with how to use a needle and were able to do it themselves.”
