Report: Alex Rodriguez, Nelson Cruz, Gio Gonzalez linked to PED investigation

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez throws to a St. Louis Cardinals batter in the first inning of Game 5 of the National League division baseball series on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012, in Washington. / AP Photo/Alex Brandon

New York Yankees' $275 million man Alex Rodriguez, Washington Nationals All-Star Gio Gonzalez and Texas Rangers slugger Nelson Cruz are among the players connected to performance-enhancing drugs in a new investigative report by the Miami New Times.

A former employee of a South Florida clinic called Biogenesis gave the Miami New Times "an extraordinary batch of records" showing athletes received various substances from Anthony Bosch, the clinic's chief who is already under investigation by Major League Baseball and the Drug Enforcement Administration, as CBSSports.com reported. At least one boxer, one tennis player and a coach were also implicated.

In a statement, MLB said "through our Department of Investigations, we have been actively involved in the issues in South Florida." The unsigned statement also says "we are always extremely disappointed to learn of potential links between players and the use of performance-enhancing substances."

The report outlines "damning evidence" against A-Rod as his name appears in Biogenesis records up until 2012. Rodriguez, who finally admitted to taking PEDs in 2009, claims he has been clean for a decade. An excerpt of the report on A-Rod reads:

There, at number seven on the list, is Alex Rodriguez. He paid $3,500, Bosch notes. Below that, he writes, "1.5/1.5 HGH (sports perf.) creams test., glut., MIC, supplement, sports perf. Diet." HGH, of course, is banned in baseball, as are testosterone creams...."

The mentions of Rodriguez begin in 2009 and continue all the way through last season. Take a page in another notebook, which is labeled "2012" and looks to have been written last spring. Under the heading "A-Rod/Cacique," Bosch writes, "He is paid through April 30th. He will owe May 1 $4,000... I need to see him between April 13-19, deliver troches, pink cream, and... May meds. Has three weeks of Sub-Q (as of April).

Gonzalez took to Twitter to deny he has ever used PEDs or met Bosch.

I've never used performance enhancing drugs of any kind and I never will ,I've never met or spoken with tony Bosch orused any substance

— Gio Gonzalez (@GioGonzalez47) January 29, 2013

Provided by him.anything said to the contrary is a lie.

— Gio Gonzalez (@GioGonzalez47) January 29, 2013

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MLB players banned for positive drug tests

Other names linked to Biogenesis in the report include outfielder Melky Cabrera, pitcher Bartolo Colon and catcher Yasmani Grandal - all of whom were suspended last season under MLB's ban on performance-enhancing drugs.

Writes Tim Elfrink, the author of the Miami New Times report: "As baseball teams head to spring training under a tougher new policy, the Biogenesis records affirm that the war on doping has been as futile as the War on Drugs."

[betterusa]

Simple solution is lifetime ban from baseball for conviction of banned drug use. No 50 to 100 game suspensions since they are a joke and not a deterrent. If A-Rod had used the PEDs for the last few years he wasted his money. He is overpaid and underperforms; take a look at his stats.

[knucklecheese]

Hey, what do you expect form the likes of A-Fraud?

[orthostice]

Hasta la vista, salon de la fama.

[dustin96v]

Players should refer all questions on prescription drugs to their Physicians for professional answers. Most medications contain elements of stimulants and amphetamines for injury recovery. The medical practice is perfectly legal.

[LogicalPosition]

SHOCKING! Do these professional athletes really CHEAT? Why do we permit such antics? Who is "in charge"?