Lawyer: A-Rod admitted to steroids use

A lawyer for the University of Miami’s former pitching coach said Wednesday that Alex Rodriguez admitted to federal investigators he used steroids supplied by the owner of a now-closed South Florida clinic.

Attorney Frank Quintero Jr., who represents Lazaro “Laser” Collazo in his defense against charges of conspiracy to distribute performance-enhancing drugs, told The Associated Press that the New York Yankees third baseman confessed to steroids use, according to Drug Enforcement Administration documents provided by the government to defense lawyers.

The Miami Herald first reported Rodriguez’s admission Wednesday, saying he met with DEA agents on Jan. 29 at the agency’s South Florida field office. Given a grant of immunity from prosecution, Rodriguez told investigators he did use banned substances between late 2010 and October 2012 supplied by Anthony Bosch, who owned the Biogenesis of America clinic in Coral Gables.

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig suspended Rodriguez for 211 games in August 2013 for violations of the sport’s drug agreement and labor contract, and the penalty was cut to the 2014 season in January by arbitrator Fredric Horowitz.

Rodriguez proclaimed his innocence and sued in federal court, then withdrew the suit and accepted the penalty.

The Herald reported Bosch told the DEA that A-Rod agreed to pay for steroids for 20 Biogenesis customers after the clinic closed to keep Bosch from talking about his involvement. That could prompt MLB to investigate whether Rodriguez could be suspended again under the sport’s drug agreement for violations related to the sale and distribution of PEDs, which are separate from the prohibitions on personal use.

Kathy Willens/Associated Press A lawyer for the University of Miami’s former pitching coach says Alex Rodriguez admitted to federal investigators he used steroids.