STEROID PROBE NETS ANOTHER MAJOR LEAGUER, By: Brian Costello
March 3, 2007 -- Another baseball player has been linked to the steroid investigation that led to raids earlier this week. Texas Rangers second baseman Jerry Hairston Jr. received prescription growth hormone from a doctor jailed in the case, according to an Internet report.
Sports Illustrated reported on its Web site yesterday that law enforcement documents indicated that Hairston was sent Genotropin, a brand of Human Growth Hormone, in May 2004.
The substance was prescribed by jailed Queens doctor Ana Maria Santi, and sent by Allied Pharmacy, a Mobile, Ala., pharmacy that was raided last fall. Angels outfielder Gary Matthews Jr., former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield and former slugger Jose Canseco all have been associated with the lab, as well.
The raid was part of wide-reaching investigation into steroid sales over the Internet being led by the Albany County District Attorney. Earlier this week two pharmacies in Orlando, Fla., were raided as part of the probe.
Sports Illustrated reports drug enforcement investigators told the magazine the drugs were sent to Maryland and Arizona addresses that trace to Hairston Jr. His birth date of May 29, 1976 also is listed on the patient file, according to documents the magazine reviewed.
Hairston told SI.com he was "baffled" and "disappointed" by the allegations.
"It's disturbing . . . I have no idea what this is about. I'm really in the dark," he said. "Not one time have I taken steroids or anything like that. I would never do anything like that to jeopardize my career or my family's name. . . . I know I'm going to be OK because I know what I've done and haven't done. . . . I would never do anything to discredit the game. The game has been good not only to myself but my entire family."
That investigation netted another arrest Thursday when a doctor with a suburban Orlando anti-aging clinic was arrested at her office. Claire Denise Godfrey, 35, was taken into custody Thursday afternoon, documents show.
At a court appearance yesterday, Seminole County (Fla.) Judge Carmine Bravo set a one week deadline for New York authorities to extradite her. Bravo said he would consider releasing Godfrey on bond if she was not transported by then.
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In Scottsdale, Ariz., baseball commissioner Bud Selig watched Barry Bonds play yesterday but would not say whether he believes the Giants slugger will cooperate with George Mitchell's steroid investigation.
"I don't know that," Selig said. "I'm going to see how the Mitchell investigation plays out."
Selig said it was incidental that he ended up at the Brewers-Giants spring training game yesterday. He was in Arizona to meet with a group of bankers. Selig did not plan to speak with Bonds.
Selig also said he had no plans to speak with Gary Matthews Jr., who allegedly was sent hGH from a pharmacy that is under investigation.
"I don't have any comment on that until I find out more about it, talk to all the parties," Selig said. "Let's see what develops there. Really what I know about Gary Matthews Jr. is what I've read in the media."
