Report: MLB believes Rodriguez paid to get clinic documents
Major League Baseball believes it has evidence that a representative of Alex Rodriguez purchased medical documents from a person connected to the Florida clinic suspected of providing performance-enhancing drugs to major league players, the New York Times reported Friday.
The Times had previously reported that Major League Baseball had purchased documents from a former employee at the Biogenesis of America clinic in an effort to collect evidence that the clinic had distributed PEDs. The report also stated one player had purchased documents so they could be destroyed. That player was not identified until now.
A spokesman for Rodriguez denied the allegation Friday, according to the Times report.
ESPN reported that although the information MLB received regarding Rodriguez seems credible, MLB has no hard evidence to connect the Yankees star to such a purchase.
If Major League Baseball can obtain either physical evidence or sworn statements, Rodriguez could face suspension from baseball, and could also face possible criminal charges, according to the ESPN report.
The Miami New Times reported in January that it had obtained medical records from the clinic that tied several players, including Rodriguez, Melky Cabrera, Gio Gonzalez, Bartolo Colon, Nelson Cruz and Yasmani Grandal, to the use of banned substances like human growth hormone.
More records then emerged that tied other players to the clinic.
