Yankees Icon Alex ‘A-Rod’ Rodriguez Once Took ‘Full Responsibility’ for His Actions With a Handwritten Letter in the Aftermath of His Ban Following the PED Scandal

When the report came in 2009, containing the names of players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, Yankees slugger, Alex ‘A-Rod’ Rodriguez, was one of them.

However, his name on that list did not stop him from playing. What did stop him from playing baseball was his connection to the Biogenesis scandal that rocked MLB from the inside out.

His part in the biogenesis scandal led the Major Leagues to ban the player from the game for 211 games. The ban was later reduced to 162. Later on, when his suspension was completed, he issued a handwritten letter apologizing for his mistakes.

What did the letter say, and why did Alex ‘A-Rod’ Rodriguez write that letter?

With the help of his PR team, the slugger released the handwritten letter. The letter was released hours after his alleged supplier of the banned substances got sentenced to four years in federal prison in Miami. The Yankees offered him the stadium for the apology. But in the letter, he said that the next time he wants to be in the Yankee stadium will be when he was wearing Pinstripes. 

Rodriguez started his letter off by saying, “To the fans,… I take full responsibility for the mistakes that led to my suspension for the 2014 season. I regret that my actions made the situation worse than it needed to be. To Major league baseball, the Yankees, the Steinbrenner family, the Players Association, and you, the fans, I can only say I’m sorry.”

The suspension that Alex served was the biggest in the history of MLB at that time. By the time the suspension was complete, he said it was just time to play some baseball.

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He took responsibility for his actions just like he did in 2009. And the letter failed to help Rodriguez as he still faced scrutiny from the media and fans.

What was the Biogenesis scandal?

The biogenesis scandal broke out in 2013, which involved the Biogenesis Clinic of America and the Major League Baseball Players.

The clinic had links to many players. And it was responsible for providing performance-enhancing drugs, specifically the human growth hormone. The growth hormone helped the players to do well in the ballpark.

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The clinic is now defunct. All the thirteen players involved with the clinic had to face suspension from the MLB.