Shane Spencer Hoax: Imposter Implies Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter Used PEDs On ESPN Radio 104.5; Listen To Full Interview

Former New York Yankees outfielder Shane Spencer was victimized by a hoax in which a man called into an ESPN radio show and implied that Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera had used performance-enhancing drugs.

ESPN Radio 104.5, the network’s Albany, N.Y., affiliate, interviewed a man it believed to be Spencer on Monday afternoon, Deadspin reports. However, the station’s interview with “Shane Spencer” was proven to be a hoax when the real Spencer issued a statement on Tuesday.

“In response to an interview that ESPN Radio 104.5 FM host Mike Lindsley claims to have done with me on yesterday afternoon, I would like to set the record straight that I did not participate in any such interview,” Spencer said in the statement, according to the New York Daily News. “I am outraged that someone would do this and at the same time disappointed that the station believed it to be me despite not coming from the contact information they had for me.”

During the hoax interview, the fake “Spencer” admitted to “dabbling” in steroid use during his pro career and claimed that there was “no question” that former Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens had used PEDs as well, Deadspin notes. In addition, the imposter questioned Jeter’s leadership skills and claimed that “it would be extremely naïve” to assume that Jeter and Rivera had never used PEDs.

The real Spencer spoke to ESPN on Tuesday night and condemned the imposter’s statements regarding Rivera and Jeter. “I listened to (the interview) for about a minute and I about threw up,” Spencer told ESPN. “I just want it out there that it wasn’t me.”

On Tuesday, ESPN Radio 104.5 posted an apology for the Spencer hoax to its website. “Yesterday we ran an interview we thought was with Shane Spencer. Unfortunately, after the interview was aired, we learned that the interview was with an imposter,” the statement read. ESPN Radio 104.5’s entire statement can be read on its website.

ESPN Radio 104.5 took down its interview with “Spencer” on Tuesday afternoon as soon as the hoax was exposed. But Deadspin managed to salvage the interview in its entirety. The hoax interview with the fake Spencer is included below.