The two-time American League MVP who made 434 home runs in the major league denied that he took anabolic steroids even if he was included in the Mitchell report and was previously questioned in an airport for carrying in his luggage banned substances. During an interview with the ESPNDeportes, slugger Juan Gonzales slaps the Mitchell report and Jose Canseco for blowing the rampant steroids use in baseball.

Most baseball analysts feel that Gonzales is just protecting his name because he is now eligible in the next Hall of Fame ballot. He was last seen playing in the majors in 2005. He played most of his 17-year professional career for the Texas Rangers. He also played for Cleveland, Detroit and Kansas City. The slugger was able to make 434 home runs, 1,404 RBIs and a .295 batting average. An impressive performance that could land him in the Hall of Fame. But the issue of using steroids could hinder his inclusion just like what happened to Mark McGwire and other baseball icons who can’t even get the minimum votes in the HOF.

Gonzales knows that linking him to steroid use will affect his chances. “It will affect [us],” he said. “The media is going to be driven by this whenever my name and others are mentioned. I never used any of that stuff.”

During the interview, Gonzales vehemently denied that he was involved in the use of performance enhancing drugs. “I never used any of that stuff. I have nothing to hide. Nothing.” His statements were consistent since the steroid probe began in 2005. “It’s not true. . . I never saw needles. I never saw pills. I never saw anything. The only guys who have put needles in my body are doctors,” Gonzales said.

He pinpointed two personalities that should be blamed for the fiasco that happened in the major league. “This dilemma was caused when Canseco opened his mouth, but the commissioner is partly to blame. Why did he throw away millions on that congressman [Mitchell]? What does Mitchell know about baseball? He never played baseball. Canseco is gone. He did it by himself, [not] to [Rafael] Palmeiro, Ivan Rodriguez or me. [Canseco] never gave us anything. He opened his mouth and wants to hurt the image of a lot of people,” he said.

But how can Juan Gonzales prove his innocence if he was tied to a notorious Dominican trainer who was even banned in all ball parks for his steroids. Angel Presinal who worked with major league players as a trainer recommended the use of anabolic steroids as part of his training program. When Alex Rodriguez admits his steroids use, he said that he got the steroids “Boli” from Presinal.

In 2001, a duffel bag containing steroids, syringes, and clenbuterol was discovered by the Toronto’s international airport customs officials. It was later claimed by Gonzales’ representative but argued that the contents belonged to Angel Presinal. However, when Presinal was questioned by the authorities, he denied it and told them that it belonged to and packed by Juan Gonzales, who at that time playing for the Cleveland Indians as an outfielder.

When asked about his relationship with Presinal, Gonzales said that he is a friend to him but he clarified that Presinal never offered him any substance as part of his training program. “It’s been a while since I saw him. Last time I saw him, it was at the Americas Championships here. I said hello to him and that was it,” said Gonzalez.

Juan Gonzalez is now playing for an amateur team in Vega Baja in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS