The undetectable drug has been detected.
Federal agents raided the home of Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Jason Grimsley on Tuesday seeking evidence that could identify him as a distributor of human growth hormone–which is illegal but undetectable in urine tests–and other performance-enhancing drugs.
Baseball officials refused to comment, but the fallout from the raid probably will be felt for months because, according to documents, when agents confronted Grimsley in April, he named names.
Grimsley has not been charged, and sources did not say what was taken from his house. But according to a search warrant affidavit obtained by the Daily News, IRS agents already had seized HGH from Grimsley in a “low-key” search of his home April 19, and he had admitted using HGH, amphetamines and anabolic steroids.
The affidavit said agents were looking for evidence of “Grimsley’s and other major-league players’ illegal receipt of prescription drugs, anabolic steroids, human growth hormone and amphetamines, the illegal distribution of such drugs, and the money laundering of the proceeds of said transactions.”
The April visit and Tuesday’s raid were led by IRS special agent Jeff Novitzky, who pursued the BALCO case.
According to the affidavit, Grimsley was first nailed by agents when he received a package containing $3,200 worth of HGH in the mail April 19 at his home in Scottsdale, Ariz. Grimsley, entertaining guests at the time, agreed to cooperate, showed agents the HGH and admitted taking the steroid Deca-Durabolin and Clenbuterol, a stimulant and weight-loss drug, as well as amphetamines, the document said.
The 6-foot-3-inch, 205-pound Grimsley also named several current and former players as having used performance-enhancing drugs, though the names were redacted from the affidavit, and described how he and other players had received HGH from a Florida physician and had even received drugs from an equipment salesman.
In addition, the Arizona Republic reported that Grimsley said amphetamines were used “like aspirin” in major-league clubhouses.
“I have no comment about that and no idea about that,” Grimsley said Tuesday night.
In a two-hour interview with federal investigators April 19, Grimsley also allegedly told investigators:
– Until last year, clubhouses had coffee pots labeled “leaded” and “unleaded” for players, indicating coffee with amphetamines and without.
– Latin players were a major source for amphetamines.
– Amphetamines also came from players on California teams that could easily go into Mexico and get them.
Underscoring the most obvious gap in baseball’s drug policy, Grimsley told Novitzky he started using HGH exclusively once baseball began testing for steroids, according to the affidavit.
Grimsley, 38, began his career with Philadelphia in 1989 and has pitched for Cleveland, California, the New York Yankees, Kansas City, Baltimore and Arizona. His record is 42-58.
Tuesday’s raid could lead to another massive scandal, following Barry Bonds’ pursuit of Babe Ruth fades and an investigation by George Mitchell.
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