MLB asks Florida paper for records in drug probe
Miami New Times has yet to decide how to respond to request
Major League Baseball officials have asked the Miami New Times for records the alternative newspaper obtained for a story on alleged use of banned substances by several players.
New Times editor Chuck Strouse said Tuesday the paper had not yet decided how to respond. Strouse described the MLB move as a request only and noted that the league does not have a law enforcement agency's subpoena power.
"At this point at least, we're deliberating just what we're going to do with the documents. We haven't said no. We haven't said yes," Strouse said.
When contacted Tuesday about the request, MLB spokesman Pat Courtney said the league had no comment.
Strouse said that dozens of the documents were posted online when the story ran, but many were redacted and there are many others that were not posted.
The newspaper reported last week that New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez, a three-time American League Most Valuable Player, and other players bought human growth hormone and other performance-enhancing substances during 2009-12 from Biogenesis of America LLC. The now-closed anti-aging clinic in Coral Cables was operated by Anthony Bosch.
The story was based on clinic records, many with handwritten notations, the New Times said it obtained.
In addition to Rodriguez, the newspaper said the records detailed purchases by 2012 All-Star game MVP Melky Cabrera, 2005 AL Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon, 2011 AL championship series MVP Nelson Cruz of Texas, Washington pitcher Gio Gonzalez, who finished third in last year's NL Cy Young Award voting, and San Diego catcher Yasmani Grandal.
Gonzalez denied the allegations on his Twitter account, Rodriguez through a spokesman and Cruz denied them through an attorney. An attorney for Bosch also denied the allegations.
Rodriguez has admitted that he used performance-enhancing drugs from 2001-03. Cabrera, Colon and Grandal were suspended for 50 games each last year by MLB following tests for elevated testosterone. Rodriguez is sidelined for at least the first half of the upcoming season after hip surgery Jan. 16.