National Basketball Association

Bulls' Rose denies making steroid remark

Published May. 22, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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Chicago guard and reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose says he does not recall telling ESPN the Magazine that the league has a steroid problem.

The magazine's May 16 issue has a quote it attributes to Rose, in which he was quoted as saying the NBA has a ''huge'' problem and needs ''a level playing field.''

Before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals Sunday night against Miami, Rose issued a statement through the Bulls saying he does not even recall being asked about the topic. He adds that if he was asked about performance-enhancing drug use, he ''clearly misunderstood'' the question.

Rose says, ''Let me be clear, I do not believe there is a performance-enhancing drug problem in the NBA.''