National Post (National Edition)
Rodriguez denies report he bought HGH, other PEDS
MLB players Cabrera, Gonzalez among those named
NEW YORK • Alex Rodriguez denied a newspaper report that accused him of buying human growth hormone and other performance-enhancing substances from a Miamiarea clinic.
The Miami New Times, an alternative weekly, reported Tuesday that it obtained records detailing purchases by Rodriguez, current Toronto outfielder Melky Cabrera, Gio Gonzalez, Bartolo Colon, Nelson Cruz and Yasmani Grandal from a Miami clinic called Biogenesis, run by Anthony Bosch. The paper also posted copies of what it said were Bosch’s handwritten records, obtained through a former Biogenesis employee.
Rodriguez admitted four years ago that he used PEDs from 2001-03. Cabrera, Colon and Grandal were suspended for 50 games each last year by MLB following tests for elevated testosterone.
“We are always extremely disappointed to learn of potential links between players and the use of performance-enhancing substances,” MLB said in a statement. “Only law enforcement officials have the capacity to reach those outside the game who are involved in the distribution of illegal performance-enhancing drugs … We are in the midst of an active investigation and are gathering and reviewing information.”
A baseball official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to make public statements, said Monday that MLB did not have any documentation re- garding the allegations. If MLB does obtain evidence, the players could be subject to discipline. First offences result in a 50-game suspensions 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 following hip surgery. A 50-game suspension would cost him US$7.65-million of his US$28-million salary.
“The news report about a purported relationship between Alex Rodriguez and Anthony Bosch are not true,” Rodriguez said in a statement issued by a publicist. “He 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.”
The Yankees said “this matter is now in the hands of the commissioner’s office” and said they will not comment further until MLB’s investigation ends.
A spokesman for the Blue Jays said general manager Alex Anthopoulos would have no comment on the matter. Besides allegations about the specific composition of his banned substance and where he got it, the report offers nothing new about the offence for which Cabrera served a 50-game suspension last year, the spokesman said.
“He served his suspension and we’re prepared to move forward,” the spokesman said.
Cabrera was suspended last August after testing positive for elevated testosterone levels. He was playing for the San Francisco Giants at the time. After serving his suspension and becoming a free agent, he signed a two-year, US$16-million contract with Toronto.
The New Times report refers to Biogenesis documents listing a “cocktail of drugs” for Cabrera — code-named “Mostro” — early in the 2012 season. The story also cites “an odd, handwritten letter” in which Tony Bosch complains that Cabrera should “man up” and pay an outstanding bill of US$9,000.
“In helping him,” Bosch wrote, “I put my business and all my doctors at risk by fabricating patient charts and phony prescriptions … I am on the ‘line’ here!!”
Gonzalez posted on his Twitter feed: “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.”
Colon was not issuing a statement, agent Adam Katz said through spokeswoman Lisa Cohen. Sam and Seth Levinson, the agents for Cabrera and Cruz, did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.
Cruz and Gonzalez had not previously been linked to performanceenhancing drugs. Cruz’s team, the Texas Rangers, said it notified MLB last week after being contacted by the New Times.
The New Times report said it obtained notes by Bosch listing the players’ names and the substances they received. Several unidentified employees and clients confirmed to the publication that the clinic distributed the substances, the paper said. The employees said that Bosch bragged of supplying drugs to professional athletes but they never saw the sports stars in the office.
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. The paper said the 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 and Jimmy Goins, the strength and conditioning coach of the University of Miami baseball team.
Mia Ro, a spokeswoman for the federal Drug Enforcement Administration in Miami, said she could not confirm or deny the existence of an investigation into the Bosches or the clinic.