“A lot of it was self-inflicted”, Alex Rodriguez reflects back on his suspension from MLB due to the usage of PED
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Alex Rodriguez has been one of the most phenomenal players in baseball and is highly regarded by MLB (Major League Baseball) fans. Although his career had some incredible stats to gain him a Hall of Fame entry, his role in the usage of PED (Performance Enhancing Drugs) has turned the tables around for him.
The shortstop, who had a 22-season-spanning MLB career, was suspended from 162 games in 2013. This meant he missed all of the 2014 season. His role in this alleged drug usage emerged after the Biogenesis scandal was revealed following an investigation. Alex Rodriguez denied these allegations earlier but later accepted these claims as accurate.
Here is how Alex Rodriguez opens up about the repercussions and regrets that he looks back to, in this interview with the New York Times Magazine.
Related: Why was Alex Rodriguez banned from the MLB in 2014?
Alex Rodriguez regrets the use of PEDs during his MLB career
Alex Rodriguez was found guilty in the Biogenesis scandal of using PEDs. The Biogenesis of America is a clinic that deals with weight loss and hormone therapy. Several high-profile names were associated with this clinic, including Rodriguez. As his name started to highlight, he continually denied administering any PED.
Rodriguez was issued a suspension notice from MLB from August 8, 2013, till the end of the 2014 season. This came into account when his violation of the MLB’s PED policy was proved through an intense investigation of this case. Meanwhile, Alex Rodriguez missed out on the entirety of the 2014 season and returned with the Yankees from the 2015-2016 season.
In an interview with the New York Times Magazine, A-Rod looked back and reflected on how his actions had some of the most aggressive repercussions for his career and image. New York Post had even termed him as ‘A-Hole’ or ‘A-Rat’. He says, “I tried to build a certain image while I was playing. And that plan failed miserably. [Now], I have more clarity.”
Rodriguez explained how he used steroids and other PEDs to improve his performance overall in the MLB. However, following the suspension, he has vowed to be more authentic and accurate to the media. Regarding his representation as a villainous character in the media, he said, “I would have booed me, too. I felt that being the tough guy who had all the answers and being robotic was the right thing to do. I was wrong, and now I think it’s O.K. if I say, I don’t know the answer.”
He further admitted that all of his troubles were mainly ‘self-inflicted’. After this incident, Alex Rodriguez vows to own up to all the mistakes that he has committed throughout his career. Alex Rodriguez is currently seen as a sports analyst in major MLB matches. However, his claim to the Baseball Hall of Fame was not fulfilled, with this incident plaguing his career forever.
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Siddid Dey Purkayastha
(528 Articles Published)