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Watch: Major League Baseball Cracks Down
Major League Baseball is expected to speak with the founder of defunct anti-aging clinic who is part of an ongoing investigation for allegedly supplying performance enhancing drugs to about 20 players, which could result in suspensions to superstars Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun, according to ESPN.
Tony Bosch, the founder of Biogenesis of America in Miami, Fla., has agreed to talk with MLB this Friday about its ongoing investigation and to supply information about the doping scandal, according to ESPN program "Outside the Lines," citing sources familiar with the situation.
Bosch is expected to say that he provided banned drugs to players and, in the case of Rodriguez, he injected the ailing New York Yankee slugger himself, ESPN reported.
ESPN REPORT: Major League Baseball Seeks to Suspend Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Braun and Others
When Biogenesis folded late last year, records from the clinic were released to the public in a Miami New Times report. They allegedly showed doping by as many as 20 players including Rodriguez, Braun, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Melky Cabrera and Texas Rangers' outfielder Nelson Cruz. After the documents surfaced, MLB said it was reviewing the information.
Kathy Willens/APNew York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez, who is on... View Full SizeMajor League Baseball Cracks Down Watch VideoA-Rod Chokes Up on Drug Apology Watch Video"What baseball didn't have was someone who would swear to the truth of those documents," said ESPN reporter T.J. Quinn, who broke the story Tuesday. "And that's what they have now -- Tony Bosch. He will testify to say those documents are true and accurate."A-Rod Opens Up on Steroid Use Watch Video
Under MLB policy, a first performance enhancing drug offense carries a 50-game suspension, a second brings a 100-game suspension and a third a lifetime ban from the sport. Those penalties are levied against players who test positive for a banned substance.
Rodriguez, a third baseman, and Braun, an outfielder with the Milwaukee Brewers, could each be slapped with a 100-game suspension for doping, which would count as a first offense, as well as lying to MLB officials about their PED-use, which would constitute a second offense, a source told ESPN.
If the suspensions are upheld, the doping scandal would be the largest in American sports history, according to ESPN.
Bosch had originally refused to cooperate with MLB's investigation into the doping scandal, but he recently had a change of heart after the league sued him, ESPN reported. MLB accused Biogenesis of scheming to provide banned PEDs to players in violation of their contracts.
"By cooperating with baseball, he is trying to take some pressure off of his life, financially and legally," Quinn told ABC News. "In return, baseball will drop the lawsuit. They will indemnify him for any civil liability he has for testifying against the players."
Bosch did not return calls from ESPN, and officials in the front office at Major League Baseball declined to comment.
During spring training in 2009, Rodriguez admitted to using PEDs during a three-year period starting in 2001, when he was a member of the Texas Rangers. Rodriguez, who is the game's highest paid player, has denied any connection to Biogenesis.
"We'll let MLB handle everything and we don't really have a comment," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said after a 4-3 win over the Cleveland Indians Tuesday night.
Braun, who allegedly failed a steroid test in 2011 but appealed the suspension and won, again insisted he is innocent.
"The truth has not changed," he said Tuesday, according to MLB.com. "I don't know the specifics of the story that came out today, but I've already addressed it, I've already commented on it, and I'll say nothing further about it."
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