It’s all in a word

and that word is “intentionally” for Raffy.

Five months after telling congress he never used steroids, period and only a couple of weeks after joining Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Eddie Murray as the only players with 3,000 career hits and 500 home runs Rafael Palmeiro was suspended 10 days for violating baseball’s steroid testing policy.

In doing so became the first big name to be caught by the new regulations and tainting his record.

All the talk about the big hitters that are looked on with suspicion having an asterisks next to their stats or their name in the Hall Of Fame well that was all based on conjecture on what was thought they did no actual proof (yet). Palmeiro can now have the asterisk attached because there’s the fact he’s been caught and suspended.

Of course comes the same old excuse when this happens, every time it’s “It wasn’t me it was someone else” the good old “I took something that was spiked” or “that I didn’t know contained anything bad”

I am here to make it very clear that I have never intentionally used steroids. Never. Ever. Period. When I found out that I had failed a test under the new drug policy, I filed a grievance and challenged the suspension on the basis that I had never intentionally taken a banned substance. Ultimately, although I never intentionally put a banned substance into my body, the independent arbitrator ruled that I had to be suspended under the terms of the program.Rafael Palmeiro

This tired old excuse has worn thin and people are asking why would such I high profile player whose had the finger pointed at him for steroid use just blindly take something without having it checked beforehand, why if it was just another team mates that he took unwittingly was that team mate not caught ?

Now it turns out he had never “knowingly” taken a steroid, and it is only a conference call or two from becoming, “I never knowingly took a steroid while wearing my space suit on the surface of Neptune.” – Ray Ratto

Again there are more questions than answers and a guy with an outstanding career, one which many thought would mean a first ballot Hall Of Fame entry has his record permanently tainted, who could also be up for perjury.

ESPN report and fallout

Palmeiro’s Statement

Thank you very much for joining me on this call today. I am saddened that we are here to address this issue, but because of the importance of it, I feel the need to make a brief statement and address your questions. At the outset, let me say that under the rules of the basic agreement and the order of the independent arbitrator, there is an order of confidentiality governing the specifics of this case. I will attempt to state as much as I can and be as forthright as possible, but there will be issues I can’t address based on the orders imposed on me by the basic agreement and the arbitration process.

I am here to make it very clear that I have never intentionally used steroids. Never. Ever. Period. When I found out that I had failed a test under the new drug policy, I filed a grievance and challenged the suspension on the basis that I had never intentionally taken a banned substance. Ultimately, although I never intentionally put a banned substance into my body, the independent arbitrator ruled that I had to be suspended under the terms of the program.

I am sure you will ask how I tested positive for a banned substance. As I look back, I don’t have a specific answer to give. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to explain to the arbitrator how the banned substance entered my body. The arbitrator did not find that I used a banned substance intentionally — in fact, he said he found my testimony to be compelling — but he ruled that I could not meet the heavy burden imposed on players who test positive under the new drug policy.

I accept this punishment and want to address it publicly. I want to apologize to Major League Baseball, the Baltimore Orioles organization, my teammates and most of all, my fans. Given my role with the No Tolerance Committee and my relationships with Congress, I feel the need to communicate a serious message to my fellow players and to kids everywhere. All of us have to be responsible and exercise extreme care in what we put in our bodies. I hope that all major league baseball players and kids will learn from what has happened to me. I have never intentionally used a banned substance, but unfortunately was not careful enough.

I take my role as a professional athlete seriously. I love baseball and have great respect for all of the players who played before me. I have always done my best to live each day in ways that would make my family proud. Everything I have accomplished is the result of hard work and dedication to being the best possible player I can be.

I feel terrible that this has happened, but I think there is something to be gained from it. If my situation results in the education of current and future players about the dangers of taking anything without a prescription from a licensed physician, that is a positive. At the end of the day, it is important for all players to understand the risk of contamination and to be very careful about what they put in their body.

This suspension is going to be incredibly difficult for me, my wife and my two boys. Over the next week and a half, I am going to spend time with my family. I am going to come back and will be as determined as ever to help the Orioles get back to the pennant race. We have worked very hard to be in position to bring our fans a title, and I will not let this be a distraction.

Finally, I would like to thank commissioner Selig and Mr. Angelos for their strong words of encouragement. I had the opportunity to speak with both of them and I am extremely appreciative of their support and friendship Rafael Palmeiro