Chapter[ VIII. Information Obtained Regarding Other Players’ Possession or Use of
Steroids and Human Growth Hormone ]
Section[ Adam Piatt ]
Adam Piatt
Adam Piatt played as an outfielder with two teams in Major League Baseball for
portions of four seasons between 2000 and 2003, the Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Devil
Rays. In 1999, he was the Oakland Athletics’ Minor League Player of the Year.
After Radomski’s guilty plea was publicly announced, Piatt’s lawyer contacted
us. We later interviewed Piatt, who voluntarily admitted his use of performance enhancing
substances. He accepted full responsibility for his actions and said that he had learned an
important life lesson as a result. Piatt should be commended for his candor, for his willingness
to admit that he made a mistake, and for accepting responsibility for his actions.
Piatt was called up to Oakland from the minor leagues in 2000. He said that he
knew nothing at that time about steroids or amphetamines. In 2001, Piatt contracted a viral
infection and lost 24 pounds in ten days. This illness affected his strength and caused extreme
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stress. He tried to come back to play baseball in August, but he was unsuccessful. Piatt said that
he worked hard during the off-season to be physically prepared for 2002. During 2002, he
started considering using human growth hormone. He researched the subject extensively that
year.
Piatt recalled that he learned of Kirk Radomski through F.P. Santangelo.
Santangelo and Piatt were teammates on the Oakland Athletics and on Oakland’s minor league
affiliate in Sacramento. Santangelo described Radomski to him as a personal trainer who was
knowledgeable about dietary issues and as a steroids supplier.
Before obtaining any substances, Piatt had several conversations with Radomski.
They discussed Piatt’s diet and what Piatt should do and take to get in optimal shape for the
upcoming year. Radomski recommended that Piatt modify his diet and work on getting in shape
before he started using human growth hormone. The conversations were all by telephone. Piatt
never met Radomski in person.
Piatt believed he initially obtained human growth hormone and either testosterone
or Deca-Durabolin from Radomski. The substances sat unused for a long time, however, before
he tried them. He was more concerned with the possible long-term health risks than with the
ethical issues.
He also thought about the problems he was having in baseball. A friend on the
team told Piatt that he lacked the bat speed he had enjoyed before his illness. Ultimately, Piatt
began using performance enhancing substances during the 2002-03 off-season. Piatt’s typical
regimen was to take one shot of testosterone per week for three to five weeks. He also injected
himself with human growth hormone every day until he contracted carpal tunnel syndrome. He
talked to Radomski about this side effect and then decreased the frequency of his use.
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Survey drug testing was conducted in Major League Baseball in 2003. Piatt did
not change his regimen because of that testing. He was tested sometime during the summer.
Piatt retired from baseball in 2004 at the age of 28 because he had lost his love for
the game. He believes that he could have played longer. According to Piatt, the time he used
illegal substances was the only time he did not enjoy baseball. He thought he had “compromised
something.”
Piatt made some payments to Radomski in 2004, but he said that those were to
satisfy old debts for 2003 shipments. He said he had no need for, and did not use, human growth
hormone after he retired. Piatt noted that Radomski never encouraged Piatt to use more
substances after Piatt said he wanted to stop. Radomski provided eight checks from Piatt, with
dates ranging from 2002 to 2004, and totaling $11,550. All are included in the Appendix. One
is shown below.
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