Report: Giambi tested postive for amphetamines last month

by anaconda on May 23, 2007 10:37 AM EDT in New York Yankees News

Jason Giambi failed a Major League Baseball-administered amphetamines test within the last year, which has subjected him to additional drug testing, sources told the Daily News. Giambi tacitly admitted last week that he has used steroids, but he failed to mention that he has been caught using other drugs.

Because Major League Baseball's amphetamines policy keeps a first positive test secret, however, it is unlikely Giambi will be asked about it when he meets with representatives from commissioner Bud Selig's office, possibly as soon as tomorrow on the Yankees' day off.

Giambi declined comment before last night's loss to the Red Sox, saying, "I can't really talk about anything."

Giambi's agent, Arn Tellem, said in an e-mail: "For the record, I'm not commenting."

But Giambi himself hinted at the failed test - which was later confirmed by the Daily News - in his eye-opening interview with USA Today last week, when he said that he is "probably tested more than anyone else."

Under MLB policy, there are two reasons a player would be required to submit to additional testing: The first is a failed steroid test, but failed steroid tests are made public. The second is a failed amphetamines test, which would not be made public.

I don't see this is as nearly as big of a deal as the steroid issue because "greenies" and players ingesting amphetamines have been part of the game of baseball as long as hotdogs and cracker jack.

Nonetheless, MLB banned these substances last season so Giambi has only himself to blame for subjecting himself to more scrutiny and bad press as a first-time offender under the new policy.

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Comments

The dude should learn to keep

his mouth shut. Obviously this is retaliation for his USA Today interview. I wonder if this leak came from the Yankees or from the commissioners office.

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on May 23, 2007 10:49 AM EDT reply actions

Hadn't thought about that

but it is a great point. I hope it was the Yankees. If he is going to throw them under the bus by implying they were on board with his roid use, then I am all for them leaking this info.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 23, 2007 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Well, to be fair

It's not like the Yankees didn't know about Giambi's steroid use when they signed him.

River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on May 23, 2007 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

I prefer to bury my head in the sand on that issue

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 23, 2007 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions

Okay, Cashman

River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on May 23, 2007 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Ouch, low blow

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 23, 2007 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Shocking, really

First Bonds, now Giambi gets caught using greenies. Those guys are usually considered so clean and virtuous that I for one am shocked. I had not the slightest suspicion that those guys would use a foreign substance to try and get an edge.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 23, 2007 10:49 AM EDT reply actions

Well

watching Giambi's baserunning day in and day out, his occassional belief that he's Johnny Damon and can stretch at single into a double, it's obvious he's on something.
The question is, are we worried he's dumb enough to try it again and get himself suspended?

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on May 23, 2007 11:39 AM EDT reply actions

Giambi isn't taking enough

if he's running the bases like the way he has...

by John Amato on May 23, 2007 12:17 PM EDT reply actions

Good point...

if there is not enough to share with everyone then he can't have his.

by grgoyldef2 on May 23, 2007 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Manny Ramirez

is a bum. There is no reason to mention his name unless it is to talk about how much of a bum he is.

A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson

by LovetheSocksNottheSox on May 23, 2007 3:00 PM EDT reply actions

Whatever.

He may be a bum, but he rakes against the Yanks.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on May 23, 2007 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Is he going to be in the lineup tonight?

I hope so - we need his bat, drugs be damned.

by docgonzo on May 23, 2007 3:21 PM EDT reply actions

The Story is false

According to Peter Gammons the Giambi article is false. Giambi never tested postive for any banned substance. Bunch of assholes at the Daily News.

by BillyBobisdrunk on May 23, 2007 4:17 PM EDT reply actions

Not that I

believe anything Gammons ever says, but I hope he's right.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on May 23, 2007 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Huh?

Gammons may be a little too pro-Boston, but he is a Hall of Famer and an incredible reporter. No idea why you wouldn't believe what he says.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 23, 2007 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions

In my book

Gammons is more than a little too pro-Boston; at times he has misrepresented clubs' positions in contract negotions and he does a piss poor job of rebuilding the context in which decisions are made (ie. Theo's job and trading for Beckett in 2005). Maybe that comes from trusting his "insider" information a little too much, and he's better than the George King's of the world, but that hardly makes me trust him.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on May 23, 2007 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions