RWS FINAL: MLB Steroids
Tate Cowden
Biogenesis Clinic Allegedly sold PEDs to Current Players
A recently closed anti-aging clinic that allegedly sold performance-enhancing drugs has been linked to several current Major League Baseball stars, according to an investigation by the Miami New Times.
The New Times' report suggests Biogenesis was supplying MLB stars and other professional athletes with human growth hormone, testosterone and steroids.
A news report suggests Alex Rodriguez continued to use PEDs after 2003. (AP Photo)
Biogenesis, described as an anti-aging clinic, was located in Miami, near the University of Miami campus. A former employee supplied the newspaper with a list of alleged clients; listed among those names were New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, Texas Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz, Washington Nationals lefthander Gio Gonzalez, Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Melky Cabrera, Oakland A's righthander Bartolo Colon and San Diego Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal.
And the New York Daily News reports as many as 20 other active major league players also could be involved.
Cabrera, then with the San Francisco Giants, and Colon both were suspended 50 games for positive PED tests late in the 2012 season. Grandal was suspended 50 games in November. And Rodriguez, of course, admitted in 2009 that he used PEDs from 2001-03 while with the Rangers.
But this investigation suggests Rodriguez didn’t stop using banned substances in 2003, as he has claimed.
Anthony Bosch, identified by the Miami New Times as the clinic’s chief, kept handwritten notebooks of Biogenesis’ records and clients. Included in those notes were details about the clinic’s clients, what drugs they took and how those drugs were received. Clients often were referred to by nicknames. Among them was “Alex Rod,” who was listed 16 times in the records obtained by newspaper. And there are entries as recent as 2012, implying that Rodriguez and others were using PEDs as recently as this past season.
Bosch first appeared on the PED radar because of his connection to Manny Ramirez, when the outfielder was suspended for a positive test in 2009.
The New York Post first reported that the public relations firm representing Rodriguez issued a statement denying his alleged involvement with Bosch and the use of PEDs in recent seasons: "The news report about a purported relationship between Alex Rodriguez and Anthony Bosch are not true. Alex Rodriguez was not Mr. Bosch’s patient, he was never treated by him and he was never advised by him. The purported documents referenced in the story—at least as they relate to Alex Rodriguez—are not legitimate."
Jay Reisinger, a lawyer who has represented Rodriguez in recent years, said the three-time AL MVP had retained Roy Black, an attorney from Rodriguez's hometown, Miami. Black's clients have included Rush Limbaugh and William Kennedy Smith.
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Gonzalez tweeted the following Tuesday morning: "I've never used performance enhancing drugs of any kind and I never will ,I've never met or spoken with tony Bosch or used any substance Provided by him.anything said to the contrary is a lie."
Cruz's law firm, Farrell & Reisinger, said in a statement: "We are aware of certain allegations and inferences. To the extent these allegations and inferences refer to Nelson, they are denied."
Colon, through agent Adam Katz, declined to comment.
None of the other players in the Miami New Times report have commented. CBSSports.com reports MLB was aware of the accusations and will investigate further.
MLB addressed the situation with a statement that begins: “We are always extremely disappointed to learn of potential links between players and the use of performance-enhancing substances. These developments, however, provide evidence of the comprehensive nature of our anti-drug efforts. Through our Department of Investigations, we have been actively involved in the issues in South Florida. It is also important to note that three of the players allegedly involved have already been disciplined under the Joint Drug Program."
It concludes this way: “We are in the midst of an active investigation and are gathering and reviewing information. We will refrain from further comment until this process is complete.”
The Yankees also released a statement: “We fully support the Commissioner’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. This matter is now in the hands of the Commissioner’s Office. We will have no further comment until that investigation has concluded.”
The Rangers’ official comment: "The Texas Rangers were contacted late last week by Miami New Times regarding the story posted this morning. At that time, the Rangers contacted Major League Baseball on that inquiry. The team has no further comment."
The Miami New Times refers to Biogenesis as the “East Coast version of BALCO,” the California lab that allegedly provided Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi with steroids and became the subject of federal investigation.
Rodriguez appears 16 times in the documents it received, the paper said, either as "Alex Rodriguez," "Alex Rod" or the nickname "Cacique," a pre-Columbian Caribbean chief.
Cabrera, Colon and Grandal were suspended for 50 games each last year by MLB following tests for elevated testosterone. Responding to the testosterone use, MLB and the players' union said Jan. 10 they were authorizing the World Anti-Doping Agency laboratory outside Montreal to store each major leaguer's baseline testosterone/epitestosterone (T/E) ratio in order to detect abnormalities.
A baseball official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to make public statements, said that MLB did not have any documentation regarding the allegations. If MLB does obtain evidence, the players could be subject to discipline. First offenses result in a 50-game suspension and second infractions in 100-game penalties. A third violation results in a lifetime ban.
Rodriguez is sidelined for at least the first half of the season after hip surgery Jan. 16. A 50-game suspension would cost him $7.65 million of his $28 million salary.
The New Times reported that Biogenesis' records list that Rodriguez paid for HGH; testosterone cream; IGF-1, a substance banned by baseball that stimulates insulin production; and GHRP, which releases growth hormones.
Rodriguez's cousin, Yuri Sucart, also is listed as having purchased HGH. Sucart was banned from the Yankees clubhouse, charter flights, bus and other team-related activities by MLB in 2009 after Rodriguez said Sucart obtained and injected PEDs for him.
Also listed among the records, according to the New Times, are tennis player Wayne Odesnik, Cuban boxer Yuriorkis Gamboa and Jimmy Goins, the strength and conditioning coach of the University of Miami baseball team.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Sporting News MLB . (2013, January 29). Retrieved June 7, 2013, from http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2013-01-29/alex-rodriguez-steroids-biogenesis-ped-hgh-anthony-bosch-melky-gio
Questions:
Demonstrate Understanding
1. If you we're trying to summarize this artical to someone who has never heard anything about it, what would you say?2. Who has used these kinds of illegal substances in the MLB before? List 3 examples and what they were using.
Develop an Interpretation
3. How do you think this will effect the MLB if these players are suspended for 50-100 games?
4. How do you think the MLB will react if the 2 time repeaters like Alex Rodriguez come up posative for using enhancement drugs?
Evaluation
5. Where is the author getting most of his information from?
6. Why do you think the author spent his time to write about a topic like this?
Answers:
2. Three examples of who has used these illegal substances before in the Major League Baseball organization would be Barry Bonds, Melky Cabrara, and of course, Alex Rodriguez. Barry got caught using steroids in 2011, Melky got caught using testosterone in 2012 and received a 50 game suspension and traded, and Alex admitted that he used steroids from 01'-03' when playing with the Texas Rangers.
3. I think that if a majority of these players are suspended from the MLB then it will be huge. Players and people in the MLB hate when others do enhancement drugs. They just want to be out there and have fun without cheating and having an advantage. I don't think that we would see as many home runs or 105 mph fastballs from the pitchers if these players get suspended.
4. I think that if Melky Cabrera and Alex Rodriguez are guilty then either the MLB will suspend them for a very long period or even end their career if they are trying to lie about it. Obviously they did not learn their lesson the first time because from the sounds of it, they are back at it and getting caught again.
5. In this article the author is getting a majority of his info from what he has herd on tv and mobile devices, and also what newspaper companies are writing in the news papers. The Miami Times have been writing a lot about this topic because it takes place in Miami, Florida where the Biogenesis is selling professional athletes illegal substances.
6. I think that the author spent his time to write an article about this because it is a huge thing in sports right now. Enhancement drugs are a huge thing and the games should be played evenly without people(s) having an advantage.