Braun denies receiving PEDs from Biogenesis
For the second offseason in a row, Ryan Braun is hearing his name connected to performance-enhancing drugs.
The Milwaukee Brewers left fielder admitted Tuesday that his attorneys contacted Anthony Bosch, head of the Biogenesis clinic in South Florida that allegedly provided performance-enhancing drugs to a number of baseball players. However, the five-time All-Star said the contact was strictly to use Bosch as a consultant for Braun's appeal of a positive drug test last winter.
"I have nothing to hide and have never had any other relationship with Bosch," Braun said, according to Yahoo Sports. "I will fully cooperate with any inquiry into this matter."
Following the publication of a Miami New Times article that detailed Bosch's connection with baseball players including New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, Major League Baseball began an investigation into Biogenesis.
According to Yahoo, the names of Braun, Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli and Baltimore Orioles third baseman Danny Valencia are on a Biogenesis document but are not listed as having received PEDs. Bosch reportedly supplied PEDs to Rodriguez, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Melky Cabrera and Detroit Tigers minor-league pitcher Cesar Carrillo.
In December 2011, news broke that Braun tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone following a season in which he was selected the National League's Most Valuable Player.
Braun had the positive test thrown out on appeal, as he successfully argued that his urine sample wasn't delivered to the lab in a timely manner.
Braun, 29, hit .332 with 33 homers and 111 RBI during his MVP season in 2011. He was the runner-up in NL MVP voting in 2012, when he batted .319 with a league-leading 41 home runs and 112 RBI.
