After a lengthy investigation into the Miami-area clinic that allegedly supplied players with Performance Enhancing Drugs, Major League Baseball will now seek to suspend those involved, according to a report from ESPN. Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun, who have both vehemently denied allegations, are two of about 20 players MLB is targeting, as punishment may be handed down soon. Sources say that MLB will look for 100-game suspensions for Rodriguez and Braun – the penalty for a second offense. If the suspensions are indeed given out, this would be the largest PED scandal in American sports history.
Tony Bosch, the owner of the now defunct “anti-aging” clinic, reached an agreement this week with MLB investigators in order to give testimony and solid evidence that would shed light on the operation. He’s scheduled to meet with investigators in about a week, with suspensions possibly being given out in two weeks. MLB already had documents obtained from the clinic with player names on them, but without sworn statements from Bosch, the documents are of little merit. It is not yet known what else Bosch will supply investigators with, but according to the report he “has pledged to provide anything in his possession that could help MLB build cases against the players.”
In exchange for his cooperation, according to the report, “Major League Baseball will drop the lawsuit it filed against Bosch in March; indemnify him for any liability arising from his cooperation; provide personal security for him and even put in a good word with any law enforcement agency that may bring charges against him.” Quite the ideal situation for Bosch, who has been in hot water and under close watch for a while.
As far as the Yankees are concerned, if Arod is penalized, it’s not yet known if the suspension will be retroactive. Rodriguez has been out rehabbing from hip surgery and isn’t due back until after the all-star break. If it isn’t retroactive, Arod would be sidelined for all of 2013 – possibly leaving some sort of loophole for the Yankees to shed some, if not all of his contract and collect insurance. Robinson Cano’s name may be mentioned by Bosch as well. Cano’s spokesperson for his foundation was found on a client list at the clinic, and it’s unknown if she could have been a middleman for the all-star second baseman. Cano’s close friend and former teammate Melky Cabrera, was suspended 50 games last year after he tested positive for testosterone – also connected with Biogenesis.
The Biogenesis scandal quieted down over the past couple of months, but now appears to be heating up as baseball moves into the summer months. Stay tuned.
