ATLANTA (AP) - Former relief pitcher John Rocker says he flunked a drug test ordered by Major League Baseball in 2000.
He also claims he, Alex Rodriguez and other Texas Rangers were advised by management and union doctors on how to effectively use steroids.
Appearing today on Atlanta radio station 680 The Fan, Rocker said commissioner Bud Selig knew in the year 2000 that he "was taking the juice" and "didn't do anything about it."
Selig suspended Rocker for the first 14 days of the 2000 season for making racial and ethnic remarks the commissioner deemed insensitive. The penalty, originally set to cover 28 days, was reduced by an arbitrator following a grievance.
Rocker says following a spring training talk with the Texas Rangers about steroids and other topics, doctors from management and the players' association pulled himself, A-Rod, Rafael Palmeiro (pahl-MEHR'-oh) and Ivan Rodriguez aside.
Rocker says the doctors told them, "Look guys, if you take one kind of steroid, you don't triple stack them and take them 10 months out of the year like Lyle Alzado (al-ZAY'-doh) did. If you do it responsibly, it's not going to hurt you."
Rocker did not identify the doctors.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-02-11-08 2059EST
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