Report: Alex Rodriguez Tested Positive for Steroids in 2003

Remember when Major League Baseball did "diagnostic" steroid tests to determine if there was enough usage to start a league-wide testing program? And how they said that the results of those tests would never become public? Well, Barry Bonds' results leaked out earlier this week and today, Sports Illustrated is reporting that Alex Rodriguez was among the 104 big leaguers that tested positive for anabolic steroids in 2003.

Baseball and Steroids

According to a Sports Illustrated report, Alex Rodriguez failed a steroid test while he was a member of the Texas Rangers in 2003. Find out more players who have been accused of taking performance enhancing-drugs or tested positive.

Charles Krupa, AP

Roger Clemens is under fire for insisting in a hearing that he did not use performance-enhancing drugs, despite what his former personal trainer has claimed.

Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP

Barry Bonds, baseball's home run king, faces charges of lying to a jury after testifying he did not use steroids, despite reports that he did fail drug tests.

Paul Sakuma, AP

Jose Canseco admitted he used steroids in his book "Juiced," and also named several of his former teammates as performance-enhancing drug users.

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Giants minor league catcher Eliezer Alfonzo was suspended last June for 50 games after he failed a drug test.

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Braves top prospect Jordan Schafer was suspended 50 games last season by the commissioner's office for violating the minor league drug program. Schafer was reportedly caught in possession of human growth hormone.

Elsa, Getty Images

In 2007, outfielder Jose Guillen received a 15-day suspension following media reports linking him to performance-enhancing drugs. Guillen's suspension was eliminated as part of baseball's new agreement on drug testing.

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Outfielder Jay Gibbons was suspended in 2007 after being linked to HGH use. Following the suspension, Gibbons admitted receiving human growth hormone in 2005 and apologized, but was released by the Orioles before they opened the regular season. Gibbons signed a minor-league deal with the Marlins last month.

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Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada was mentioned in the Mitchell Report in connection with reported purchases of steroids. In January 2008, the FBI announced that it launched an investigation into whether Tejada lied to federal investigators.

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In December 2007, Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts issued an apology and admitted to using steroids on a single occasion in 2003 shortly after he was named in the Mitchell Report.

Doug Benc, Getty Images

When approached by an SI reporter on Thursday at a gym in Miami, Rodriguez declined to discuss his 2003 test results. "You'll have to talk to the union," said Rodriguez, the Yankees' third baseman since his trade to New York in February 2004. When asked if there was an explanation for his positive test, he said, "I'm not saying anything."

That would be 2003, the year he won the AL MVP, hit 47 homers, drove in 118 runs, and was generally impressive enough that the Yankees went out and traded for him after the season ended. Apparently he did all of that on testosterone and a steroid known as Primbolan. And really, 2003 was his worst season in Texas, not all that impressive compared with 2000-2002, 2005, or 2007.

I guess that "A-Fraud" talk won't be going away.

A-Rods Controversies

Superstar Alex Rodriguez reportedly failed a drug test when he was the American League MVP in 2003 with the Texas Rangers. It's just the latest in a long line of controversies for A-Rod. Click through to find out more about A-Rod's checkered past.

Chris Carlson, AP

Former manager Joe Torre's recently released book, 'The Yankee Years', included details of A-Rod's tumultuous stay with the Yankees. In the book, Torre claims A-Rod was known by teammates as "A-Fraud" and paints him as mentally fragile.

Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

Rodriguez's decision not to play for the United States at the upcoming World Baseball Classic put him in the middle of another firestorm. A-Rod chose to join David Ortiz's Dominican squad over the nation of his birth.

Kena Betancur, AP

There have also been rumors that Rodriguez dated pop star Madonna, with numerous reports of the two spending time together.

Jim Rogash, Getty Images

In May 2007, many called this slide into the Red Sox's Dustin Pedroia to break up a double play dirty, as part of the heated Red Sox-Yankees rivalry.

Nick Laham, Getty Images

He filed for free agency during Game 4 of the 2007 World Series, drawing the ire of fans and officials. Some accused A-Rod of trying to grab the spotlight as the Yankees' big rivals were closing in on their second title in four seasons. He later re-signed with New York.

Jim McIsaac, Getty Images

The New York tabloids had a field day after the Yankees star was allegedly caught with a "mystery blonde" at the end of May of 2007. The woman was later identified as an exotic dancer, and his wife filed for divorce from him just over a year later, citing his infidelity.

New York Post

Things have been frosty for A-Rod and Derek Jeter since Rodriguez dissed his buddy by saying Jeter was "never your concern" when facing the Yankees.

Tony Gutierrez, AP

Despite being named AL MVP (48 homers, 130 RBI) in 2005, Yankee fans called out A-Rod by saying many of his homers came in meaningless situations.

Morry Gash, AP

A-Rod's awkward slap that knocked the ball from Bronson Arroyo's glove in the 2004 ALCS enhanced his reputation as a player who folded in the clutch.

Amy Sancetta, AP