Days after St. Louis Cardinals OF Rick Ankiel and Toronto Blue Jays 3B Troy Glaus were reported to have been supplied with HGH or steroids from a Florida pharmacy another name was added to the list. Baltimore Orioles OF Jay Gibbons received the banned substances from the same Florida pharmacy according to SI.com. Major League Baseball has asked to speak with all three players.
The allegations have placed a cloud over what is an extraordinary return to the major leagues for Ankiel. After losing all control as a pitcher Ankiel turned himself into an outfielder, and going into tonight’s game is batting .316 with 9HR in 27 games since being called up from AAA. MLB banned the use of HGH in 2005 a year after Ankiel allegedly received his shipments of the substance. He would not be in violation of MLB’s substance abuse policy, and has not been accused of wrong-doing by authorities. Ankiel did not deny using HGH, but did say that any drugs he did receive were prescribed to him by a physician.
Glaus allegedly received his shipments of anabolic steroids from 2003 to 2004 after receiving a prescription from an anti-aging clinic in California along with the Florida pharmacy. Glaus had huge seasons between 2000 and 2002 hitting 111 homers before missing most of 2003 and 2004 with shoulder problems. Glaus has decided to stay quiet about the allegations.
The latest addition to the list is Gibbons who received steroids and HGH after both substances were banned by MLB between 2003 and 2005. Gibbons has also been linked to former pitcher Jason Grimsley who was arrested by the FBI for distributing drugs and has a list of players he dealt with. Gibbons has not commented on the allegations at this time.
MLB has not set a date for meeting with these three players, and with only three weeks left in the season they may wait until after the season is done. These players need to work with Major League Baseball, and agree to talk about their past drug use. New York Yankees 1B has already set a precedent for these meetings, but unlike Giambi both Gibbons and Glaus could face suspensions or fines because they allegedly received the substances after the league banned them.
The damage has already been done to reputations of these three players, and they can only try to regain acceptance by agreeing to talk. If they decide not to talk with MLB they are basically admitting guilt, and public opinion will not be kind.
This list should continue to grow, and fans are bracing for players from their teams to be accused. With the Grimsley list, and the upcoming release of the investigation by George Mitchell this list could grow rapidly as long as the names that have been gathered are allowed to be released.
Other News:
- Detroit Tigers P Jeremy Bonderman is likely done for the 2007 season with pinched cartilage in his pitching elbow.
- In more Tigers news OF Curtis Granderson stole his 20th base yesterday. He becomes the third player since 1900 with at least 20 steals, 20 doubles, 20 triples and 20 home runs. The others were Frank Schulte in 1911 and Willie Mays in 1957.
