Chapter[ IX. The Threat Posed By Internet Sales of Steroids and Human Growth
Hormone ]
Section[ Ismael Valdez ]
Ismael Valdez
In an article on November 6, 2007, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that
former pitcher Ismael Valdez made a series of purchases in 2002 through the Palm Beach
Rejuvenation Center of human growth hormone and several drugs used to counteract the side
effects of steroid abuse.501 Valdez played for seven teams in Major League Baseball between
1994 and 2005, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Anaheim Angels, Texas Rangers,
Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, and Florida Marlins.
According to the article, on September 7, 2002, while he was playing with the
Mariners, Valdez “used a credit to card to buy nearly $2,500 worth of human growth hormone,”
which was shipped to him at the Texas Rangers ballpark in Arlington, Texas where Valdez had
been playing until he was traded to the Mariners the prior month. Ten days later, Valdez
reportedly purchased Novarel, clomiphene, and Arimidex from the center, all of which are used
to counteract the effects of steroid abuse.502 The article reported that “Valdez’s prescriptions
were written by the same dentist who prescribed drugs to [Paul] Byrd, [Jose] Guillen and [retired
infielder Matt] Williams.”503
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