Steroids rules tripping up Latin players

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Study shows more than half of players who have failed steroids tests are from Latin America.

By RONALD BLUM

Date published: 5/5/2005

AP SPORTS WRITER

NEW YORK--Players from Spanish-speaking countries are getting tripped up by baseball's steroids policy at a disproportionate rate, raising concerns that they don't understand the rules on banned substances--including over-the-counter supplements bought back home.

More than half the players suspended for positive tests at both the major and minor league levels were born in Latin America, according to a review of their birth places by The Associated Press. By comparison, about a quarter of players on opening-day major league rosters were born in Spanish-speaking countries.

"I think it's just lack of communication," said Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Jose Valentin, who was born in Puerto Rico. "You've got a lot of young Latin players who don't understand the language. They probably don't know what's going on and they're not into it, in terms of meetings and stuff like that. I mean, you get some papers in your locker during spring training and during the season, and they're in English."

So what happens?

"They don't even read it," Valentin said. "They just throw it away."

Three of the five players suspended under the big league policy were born outside the United States: Minnesota reliever Juan Rincon (Venezuela), Tampa Bay outfielder Alex Sanchez (Cuba) and Texas pitcher Agustin Montero (Dominican Republic).

At the minor league level, 24 of the 47 players suspended this year (51.1 percent) were born in Latin America, with 11 from Venezuela, 10 from the Dominican Republic, two from Mexico and one from Puerto Rico.

According to statistics compiled by the commissioner's office, 23.5 percent of the 829 major league players on opening-day rosters and disabled lists were born in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, or Venezuela. While no minor league statistics are available for this year, as of April 2004 the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Venezuela accounted for 40.4 percent of the 6,117 players signed to minor league contracts.

Date published: 5/5/2005