Major League Baseball players at the heart of a doping probe proclaimed innocence and adopted a wait-and-see attitude after a report that suspensions would be sought for about 20 players.
ESPN reported that a major league investigation was set to have cooperation from Anthony Bosch, the founder of a Miami-area clinic that allegedly supplied several stars with steroids and other performance-enhancing substances.
Injured New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez and Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun are among those who could face 100-game suspensions, according to the ESPN report.
Braun denied any wrongdoing while Toronto’s Melky Cabrera and Texas’ Nelson Cruz were among those waiting to see what Major League Baseball would do as it tries to curtail the use of human growth hormones and steroids in the US national pastime.
If the bans are imposed, the scandal could become the widest-reaching doping scandal in North American sports history, a dubious title given its rivals.
Doping admissions have already tainted such baseball stars as Mark McGwire and Andy Pettite and allegations from other scandals have nagged such icons as US home run king Barry Bonds and legendary pitcher Roger Clemens.
But the latest group would also follow into the hall of shame of dope cheats such as cyclists Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis and a host of athletics performers led by Canada’s Ben Johnson and Americans Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery.
Major League Baseball’s investigation of the Miami clinic Biogenesis, first exposed in a Miami New Times article last January, had uncovered paperwork that appeared to be records of sales to major league players.
But authorities needed Bosch’s confirmation of details to have enough evidence to impose doping bans.
Braun, who won an appeal for elevated testosterone levels two years ago when an arbitrator ruled his urine sample had not been handled properly, had nothing new to say on the scandal after Milwaukee’s victory over Oakland on Tuesday.
“I’ve already addressed everything related to the Miami situation,” Braun said. “I addressed it in spring training. I will not make any further statements about it. The truth has not changed.”
In February, the 2011 National League Most Valuable Player said his attorneys used Bosch as a consultant in preparing his appeal on the earlier doping case.
“There was a dispute over compensation for Bosch’s work, which is why my lawyer and I are listed under ‘moneys owed,'” Braun said in February. “I have nothing to hide and have never had any other relationship with Bosch. I will fully cooperate with any inquiry into this matter.”
After Texas lost 17-5 to Boston, Cruz said, “I can’t say anything. I guess it’s part of the process. They’re doing their job. I don’t have any comment about it.”
Cabrera, suspended for 50 games last year for elevated testosterone and dropped for the playoffs by the eventual World Series champion San Francisco Giants, told the New York Daily News he has been punished enough.
“If they suspend me again, I think that would be a harsh punishment because I already served my sentence. But it’s up to them,” Cabrera said. “I believe I’ve already served my sentence, especially missing the playoffs. That’s what hurt me the most.”
Three-time American League Most Valuable Player Rodriguez never tested positive for steroids, but said in 2009 that he had used performance-enhancing drugs while a member of the Texas Rangers from 2001-2003.
“Everything right now is speculation until MLB does something,” Yankees outfielder Vernon Wells said. “Until something happens, there’s really nothing we can say.”
Other players named by ESPN as facing bans include Everth Cabrera, Francisco Cervelli, Bartolo Colon, Fautino De Los Santos, Yasmani Grandal, Fernando Martinez, Jesus Montero, Jordan Norberto, Jhonny Peralta and Cesar Puello.
The Major League Baseball Players Association would likely file grievances against any player who received a suspension as a result of the probe.
“The Players Association has been in regular contact with the commissioner’s office regarding the Biogenesis investigation,” union executive director Michael Weiner said.
“They are in the process of interviewing players and every player has been or will be represented by an attorney from the Players Association. The commissioner’s office has assured us that no decisions regarding discipline have been made or will be made until those interviews are completed.
“It would be unfortunate if anyone prejudged those investigations.”
Players await possible huge bans in doping probe
