Alex Rodriguez reportedly filed for an exemption to MLB that would allow himself to use PED’s during his 2007 MVP season. During that year, he swatted 54 home runs and drove in a career high 156 RBI’s while batting .314. Tim Elfrink and Gus Garcia-Roberts wrote in their new book, “Blood Sport: Alex Rodriguez, Biogenesis and the Quest to End Baseball’s Steroid Era,” of how he submitted a grant from the league to let him use testosterone during the season. Here is an exert from the book via Sports Illustrated:
Under baseball’s performance-enhancing drug policy, players can apply for a so-called therapeutic use exemption (TUE) to take certain medical substances otherwise banned by MLB. A doctor appointed by both sides—the independent program administrator (IPA) — reviews all applications. Baseball also has an expert medical panel to advise the IPA. If an exemption is granted, the player cannot be punished for using that substance. The exemption is good for one year.
Before the 2007 season, Rodriguez asked for permission to use testosterone, which has been banned by baseball since 2003. The IPA in ’07 was Bryan W. Smith, a High Point, N.C., physician. (Baseball did not yet have the advisory medical panel.) On Feb. 16, 2007, two days before Rodriguez reported to spring training, Smith granted the exemption, allowing Rodriguez to use testosterone all season.
If this were to be true, you would wonder how many other MLB players were granted permission during that period and if any are still being allowed? The TUE’s are substances like Adderall which can be explainable due to some health conditions. But testosterone, come on!
Rodriguez reportedly filed for other exemptions throughout his career and some were even allowed. I wouldn’t be shocked if A-Rod had never been clean in his professional career. Heck, I doubt even in his high school career. One season he added 25 pounds of muscle and could bench press 300 lbs!
The legend of Alex Rodriguez continues to grow even when he isn’t playing. It’s very possible that he played his last game and will be shunned for the Baseball Hall of Fame.