Palmeiro Offers Explanation

Rafael Palmeiro on Wednesday gave his first public explanation of his failed drug test, releasing a statement on the eve of a congressional report on whether he lied under oath when he denied using steroids.

In the statement released by his lawyer, the former Baltimore Oriole slugger acknowledged several facts of his case that already had been reported, including that the anabolic steroid Stanozolol was found in his system in May and that he had raised the possibility that a shot of vitamin B-12 he took in April “might have been the cause.”

“I have never intentionally taken steroids,” Palmeiro said in the statement.

When he testified to the House Government Reform Committee on March 17, Palmeiro jabbed a finger in the air and said, “I have never used steroids. Period.” On Aug. 1, baseball suspended Palmeiro for 10 days after he tested positive for steroids. Two days later, Government Reform Committee Chairman Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.) said the panel would open an investigation into whether Palmeiro committed perjury. A report on that inquiry will be released today.

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Ozzie Guillen of the World Series-champion Chicago White Sox was voted American League manager of the year, and Bobby Cox of the Atlanta Braves became the first back-to-back winner in either league, taking National League honors after leading the rookie-laden team to another division title.

Guillen received 17 first-place votes, five seconds and five thirds from the Baseball Writers’ Assn. of America. Cox was listed first on 28 ballots.