Washington Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez, set to start for the United States in the World Baseball Classic, denied using performance-enhancing drugs Tuesday as he reported to pre-season training camp.
Gonzalez, who won a career-best 21 games last year, was among Major League Baseball players named in records of a Miami clinic linked to supplying banned substances to athletes, records revealed in reports by Miami New Times.
“At the end of the day, I’ve never taken performance-enhancing drugs and I never will,” Gonzalez said.
Max Gonzalez, Gio’s father, was a patient of clinic owner Anthony Bosch, although the Nationals pitcher said he was unaware of that until the report.
The elder Gonzalez said he went to the clinic lose weight and declared his son “as clean as apple pie”.
Documents showed the younger Gonzalez’s name next to a list of ingredients for a substance called “pink cream”, a synthetic testosterone that is among substances banned by Major League Baseball, which is investigating the affair.
“I’m cooperating with MLB and I’ve done everything they want,” Gonzalez said. “I feel strong with their program and what they’re doing. At the end of the day, it’s waiting on them.”
Gonzalez said he was shocked and stunned when his name was on Biogenesis documents along with such stars as Alex Rodriguez, Nelson Cruz and Melky Cabrera.
“All of South Florida, all of baseball knows my father is the most proud father in baseball,” Gonzalez said. “Other than that, I have no clue why my name was on the list or on the notebook or anything.”
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said in January that “the issue is currently being reviewed by Major League Baseball and it would be inappropriate for the Nationals to comment until that review is completed.”
Classic-bound Gonzalez denies doping
