Report felt all way to Hartselle

By Staff
Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
The much-awaited Mitchell Report - compiled by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell’s investigation into the illegal use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs - included the name of Hartselle native Steve Woodard.
Woodard, a fifth-round selection of the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1994 draft, was linked to The Health and Rejuvenation Center, an anti-aging center in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., in a September story in the New York Daily News.
The story suggested that Woodard, along with several other professional athletes, received steroids and human growth hormones from the center.
Woodard’s name wasn’t already known to Mitchell before the story was published earlier this year.
According to the Mitchell report - which names more than 80 current and former major leaguers linked to illegal performance-enhancing drugs - the article did not give a specific date of shipment of steroids and human growth hormones to Woodard, who last appeared in a game during the 2003 season with the Boston Red Sox.
While Woodard is not facing any criminal charges, he could face a suspension from Major League Baseball if he decided to resurrect his playing career.
Woodard has not commented publicly since the release of the report.
That penalty would probably be light, considering there was no drug testing for steroids and no steroid penalties until 2003.
Woodard’s name surfaced from the files of HARC, which is facing indictment for prescribing the illegal drugs. While HARC prescribed steroids and human growth hormone, the drugs were filled at Signature and other pharmacies and shipped to clients.
Signature’s client list includes 14 professional wrestlers, New England safety Rodney Harrison and St. Louis Cardinal outfielder Rick Ankiel.
Ankiel and Woodard were the only baseball players connected to Signature.
Woodard’s best season came in 1999, when he went 11-8 for the Brewers with a 4.52 ERA, working a career high 185 innings.
He had 94 career starts.
Woodard started 10 games for Cleveland in 2001, but retired without making a start in the next two seasons at Texas and Boston.
Unfortunately, his body of work in professional baseball may be overshadowed by the chemicals he may or may not have used during that career.
Sports editor Todd Thompson can be reached at 773-6566 or by email at todd.thompson@hartselleenquirer.com