According to the New York Times Major League Baseball has ratcheted up its effort to obtain the potentially damaging documents that links major league players to the Miami based clinic that provided performance-enhancing drugs and is willing to pay for them. It was also reported that at least one player has been in contact and has purchased the documents from a former clinic employee in order to destroy them. According to the New York Times, MLB felt like it needed to purchase the documents from the former Biogenesis employee because at least one player was attempting to do the same.
This past January, the Miami New Times reported that it had received records from the clinic that tied at least six players to the use of banned substances including HGH, human growth hormone. The six were Alex Rodriguez, Melky Cabrera, Gio Gonzalez, Bartolo Colon, Nelson Cruz and Yasmani Grandal Subsequently for records were leaked that included Ryan Braun to the clinic. Braun tested positive for PED’s in 2011 and successfully appealed a 50 game suspension. Braun is the only player ever to successively appeal and MLB administered drug test.
MLB has been unsuccessful in trying to obtain the documents in the past. Commissioner Bud Selig sent two of his top deputies — Rob Manfred and Pat Courtney — to Florida in February to try to persuade Miami New Times to share the documents it had obtained. The newspaper declined. MLB Also filed a lawsuit against six people who were connected with the Biogenesis clinic. The suit accuses them of damaging the sport by providing players PED’s and seeks the ability to subpoena records from the clinic to compel depositions.
