Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl
Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose denied Sunday an ESPN The Magazine report quoting him as saying performance enhancing drugs are a “huge” problem in the NBA.
Rose was one of several professional athletes asked the following question by ESPN the Magazine for its May 16 issue: “If 1 equals ‘What are PEDs (Performance Enhancing Drugs)’? and 10 equals ‘Everybody’s Juicing’ … How big of an issue is illegal enhancing in your sport?”
In response, Rose said, “Seven. It’s huge, and I think we need a level playing field, where nobody has that advantage over the next person.”
Rose issued a statement through the team on Sunday afternoon denying the quote.
“Regarding the quote attributed to me in ESPN The Magazine, I do not recall making the statement nor do I recall the question being asked,” Rose said. “If that was my response to any question, I clearly misunderstood what was asked of me.
“But, let me be clear, I do not believe there is a performance enhancing drug problem in the NBA.”
Rose added later: “If there was [a drug problem] … we get tested four times so it would definitely show up or something. There’s definitely not a drug problem in the NBA.”
Rose, the NBA’s MVP this season, helped the Bulls take on the Miami Heat in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals on Sunday. The series is tied 1-1.
He claimed the comments wouldn’t be a distraction Sunday night.
“I’m fine. I’m fine,” Rose said. “Of course you definitely don’t want to go through this, but things like this happen and I clarified things. Now I’m just worried about the game.”
ESPNChicago.com’s Nick Friedell contributed to this report.
