November 22, 2024
Sports

Report: Guillen bought steroids

Power-hitting outfielder Jose Guillen bought nearly $20,000 worth of steroids and human growth hormone from 2003-05, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Tuesday.

Former major leaguers Matt Williams and Ismael Valdez also purchased performance-enhancing drugs, in 2002, from a Florida anti-aging clinic that was raided in February as part of an investigation by the Albany, N.Y., district attorney into alleged illegal drug sales, the newspaper said.

Major League Baseball began testing for steroids in 2003. HGH was banned in January 2005.

The Chronicle received details of the players’ orders in records from a source the newspaper didn’t identify. Those records contained shipping and purchase orders, payment information, Social Security numbers and customers’ birthdates, the paper said.

A report by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell of Maine into the use of performance-enhancing substances in baseball is expected before the end of the year. An unidentified active player has agreed to speak with Mitchell in the next few weeks, SI.com reported Tuesday. The Yankees’ Jason Giambi, who was pressured by commissioner Bud Selig, is the only active player known to have spoken with Mitchell, a director of the Boston Red Sox.

Guillen, 31, spent last season with the Seattle Mariners, batting .290 with 23 homers and 99 RBIs. He split the 2003 season between Cincinnati and Oakland, and the Chronicle said business records indicate he had some of the drugs shipped to the Oakland Coliseum that year. He played for the Anaheim Angels in 2004 and Washington Nationals in 2005. Attempts by The Associated Press to reach him via cell phone were unsuccessful Tuesday.

Last week, the Mariners declined their $9 million option on Guillen’s contract for next season. He, in turn, declined his $5 million option, and will receive a $500,000 buyout. Guillen can now file for free agency.

Mariners president Chuck Armstrong told the AP the team remains interested in keeping Guillen.

“We thought he was an outstanding teammate. We were happy to have him. We know nothing about what happened in the past,” Armstrong said. “I continue to admire and respect him greatly.

“Before I feel anything negative about Jose, I need to see something tangible or real.”

Armstrong also said if Guillen exercises his option, the Mariners would need to investigate the allegations.

“I for sure would have to talk to Jose about this,” Armstrong said.

Guillen just completed his 11th season in the majors. Records show he ordered more than $19,000 worth of drugs – three kinds of human growth hormone, two types of testosterone and the steroids stanozolol and nandrolone – from the Palm Beach Rejuvenation Center between May 2002 and June 2005, the Chronicle said.


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