Taylor Hooton Foundation, an Anti-Steroid Group, Has Already Cut Ties with Alex Rodriguez

Back in 2009 Alex Rodriguez held a press conference following an interview with Peter Gammons on ESPN where he admitted to using PEDs during his time with the Texas Rangers. Attending that press conference was Don Hooten, father of Taylor Hooten a 17-year-old high school baseball player who his family says took his own life in 2003 as a result of taking anabolic steroids. The Hootens founded the Taylor Hooton Foundation in 2004 to help educate young athletes about the dangers of steroid use.

During that press conference Rodriguez said (right around the 1:55 mark), “I do plan to, and I’ve had several conversations with Don, to join forces with him and Major League Baseball to basically (send an) anti-steroid message to kids all over the country.”

Monday Major League Baseball suspended Rodriguez for 211 games for his involvement with Biogenesis, pending his appeal. The league’s official statement said in part Rodriguez was suspended for: “his use and possession of numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including Testosterone and human Growth Hormone, over the course of multiple years.”

It didn’t take long for the Hooton Foundation to cut ties with Rodriguez, issuing a statement of its own Monday:

"“It is with sadness and disappointment that we learned today that Alex Rodriguez has once again violated the rules of Major League Baseball by using illegal substances,” said Don Hooton, Taylor Hooton Foundation president. “We have had a good relationship with Rodriguez since early 2009 when we stood with him at his press conference in Tampa. There, he issued his public mea culpa, committed that he would not be involved in the future with banned substances, and said that he wanted to help us to encourage kids to stay away from them. He offered to use his situation as an example to let them know that it is not right for them to use performance enhancing drugs. Working together, we’ve delivered messages to thousands of kids and have impacted their lives in a positive way. But, today’s announcement leaves us no option but to discontinue our relationship with Alex Rodriguez.”"

The ultimate irony: Sunday the Yankees are scheduled to host a Taylor Hooton Foundation fundraiser during their game in the Bronx against the Tigers.

For some more Rodriguez hypocrisy, here’s his interview with Katie Couric in 2007 where he denied taking any PEDs during his career.