On Monday The New York Times reported that Alex Rodriguez had tested positive for a banned stimulant in 2006. Rodriguez is currently appealing a 211-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s drug policy.
The penalty for a first stimulant violation is six unannounced drug tests during the year. For a second stimulant violation, it’s a 25-game suspension. MLB was accused by Rodriguez’s legal team of leaking the allegation of a positive test, and using a statement and filing with arbitrator Fredric Horowitz, according to the Associated Press. Rodriguez’s team has denied that Rodriguez tested positive.
''Alex Rodriguez was never suspended for use of stimulants or any violation of the MLB drug program,'' Rodriguez lawyer James McCarroll said in a statement. ''The fact that MLB has resorted to leaking federally protected medical information about a player speaks volumes of the weakness of their case against Alex - and their desperation to secure a win in the arbitration, at all costs.''
MLB issued their own statement denying the claims made by Rodriguez’s legal team.
'We were not the source for this story,'' MLB said in its statement. ''We honor our joint drug program and never publicly disclose player test results until it's publicly announced.''
ESPN notes that whether MLB used the failed test as part of its evidence against him is not known at this time. Rodriguez’s appeal is on hiatus until November 18. Rodriguez is also suing Commissioner Bud Selig and MLB. The suit alleges several occurrences of misconduct as MLB tried to suspend Rodriguez for violating the joint drug and collective bargaining agreements. Rodriguez’s lawsuit will have its first conference on November 7.