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Pudge emphatically denies using steroids in new book

JM Reuters

As a member of the 2017 Hall of Fame class to be inducted on July 30, Ivan Rodriguez is still adamant that he's never used steroids.

"Let's make that as crystal clear as possible - I never took steroids," Rodriguez writes in his book "They Call Me Pudge," set for release Aug. 1. "If anyone says differently, they are lying."

The 13-time Gold Glove catcher was implicated by then-teammate Jose Canseco who wrote that he personally injected steroids into Pudge during the 1992 season in his book "Juiced," published in 2005.

On Sunday, Pudge will be officially enshrined in Cooperstown alongside fellow inductees Jeff Bagwell and Tim Raines.

Among his many accolades, Pudge made the All-Star Game 14 times, won the 1999 MVP award, and helped lead the Florida Marlins to the 2003 World Series championship in his only season with the team.

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