Performance-Enhancing Drug Scandal Could Rock Baseball
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Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun, two of Major League Baseball’s most high-profile players, might be facing suspensions of 100 games each after being implicated in a performance-enhancing drug (PED) scandal involving the now-defunct Miami clinic, Biogenesis of America.
ESPN.com broke the story Tuesday on Outside the Lines, reporting that clinic founder Tony Bosch is cooperating with MLB and could verify the names of up to 20 players that include Rodriguez, who plays for the New York Yankees, and Braun, a member of the Milwaukee Brewers.
While MLB already has a list of names, they need Bosch to confirm that he helped the players receive illicit substances that supposedly improved performance on the field. Until now, Bosch has denied wronging with PED distribution.
It’s expected that even if MLB goes through with the suspensions — 50 days for the initial charges of doping and 50 days for lying about it — the players’ union will appeal, possibly starting a long litigation process lasting for months.
However, if the suspensions are upheld, the scandal is potentially the biggest one to ever hit baseball. Braun is one of the game’s top hitters, while Rodriguez, although he’s been on the disabled list all season, has put up Hall of Fame numbers throughout his career.
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