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.