Matts Williams named in steroids?

[Lefty]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3096834

 

[Gee!]

Williams Accused of Purchasing Steroids, HGH
November 6th, 2007 @ 10:44am by ESPN News Services, KTAR.com

Former Diamondbacks third baseman Matt Williams, a Special Assistant to the General Partner, purchased thousands of dollars worth of steroids and HGH, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Tuesday.

Major League Baseball began testing for steroids in 2003 and put growth hormone on its list of banned substances in January 2005.

In examining the records provided to the Chronicle by a confidential source, the newspaper also found that:

• Williams, a five-time All-Star who played 17 seasons in the majors, purchased $11,600 worth of HGH, steroids and other drugs from the Palm Beach clinic in 2002. Williams, the cornerstone of the San Francisco Giants' infield for a decade, was a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks at the time.

Reached by phone Monday, Williams told the Chronicle he used HGH on the advice of a doctor to treat an ankle injury he suffered during spring training in 2002.

Arizona Diamondbacks President Derrick Hall released a statement reading: "We obviously just learned of this. Matt informed us that a doctor recommended its use to help heal his ankle injury. It was a substance that he was not familiar with at the time, and according to him, did not like its effects after sampling. He discontinued the use of it and retired the next season. Matt is a stand-up guy, who without hesitation, admitted using it and not liking it. There is no doubt in our minds that Matt would decline such a recommendation today, knowing what we all know about enhancing substances."

Williams played with the Diamondbacks during their World Series run in 2001. He currently serves as a broadcaster for the team.

• Right-hander Ismael Valdez, who spent parts of 12 seasons with seven teams and last pitched in the majors in 2005, purchased $11,300 worth of performance-enhancing drugs in 2002 following his trade from the Texas Rangers to Seattle.

Valdez's former agent didn't return messages left by the Chronicle.

Veteran outfielder Jose Guillen purchased thousands of dollars worth of steroids and human growth hormone from a Florida clinic under investigation for illegal drug sales, the Chronicle reported.

Citing business records, the Chronicle reported Guillen, who played for the Seattle Mariners last season, bought more than $19,000 worth of drugs from the Palm Beach Rejuvenation Center between May 2002 and June 2005. Guillen had some of the shipment sent to the Oakland Coliseum during the 2003 season, after he was traded to the A's.

The newspaper's examination of the Palm Beach clinic's records found that Guillen ordered three different types of HGH, two forms of testosterone and the steroids stanozolol and nandrolone between 2002 and 2005.

Guillen did not reply to requests for comment left with his agent and business manager.

Some prescriptions for Guillen, Williams and Valdez were written by the same Florida dentist whose license was suspended in 2003 for fraud and incompetence. The dentist also reportedly prescribed HGH to Paul Byrd; citing an anonymous law enforcement source, the Chronicle reported in October that the Cleveland Indians pitcher bought nearly $25,000 worth of growth hormone and syringes between 2002 and 2005.

Byrd said he no longer is taking HGH.

Tuesday's report comes as all of Major League Baseball braces for the release of George Mitchell's report on steroids use in the game. Mitchell, a director and former Senate Majority Leader, was hired by commissioner Bud Selig in March 2006 and is expected to issue his report before the end of the year.

Interviewed during the World Series, Selig first said he doubted he would see the report before it is made public, then suggested he might get it a few hours before others so he could "digest it."

Selig wouldn't speculate on possible discipline for players who may be implicated.

"I just don't want to comment because I don't know what's going to come out," he said.

The Palm Beach anti-aging clinic, as well as others plus online pharmacies in Florida and Alabama, have been targeted by the Albany County, N.Y., district attorney for illegal sales of drugs, including steroids and HGH. In addition to MLB players, the businesses' customer lists have contained the names of pro football players and wrestlers. No athletes have been indicted.

 

[Mulli]

Seems to me Matty wasn't much of a player after 2001, when injuries started to be chronic.