NEW YORK (AP) - An investor who helped launch Anthony Bosch’s Biogenesis of America has been trying to sell purported documents from the closed anti-aging clinic to Major League Baseball and players, several people familiar with the matter said Friday.
MLB has bought some of the documents, the people said, all speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the situation. MLB has been investigating the clinic for allegedly distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs to players.
MLB’s purchase was first reported Thursday by The New York Times, which said Friday that MLB investigators have “what they believe is evidence” that a representative of Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez purchased medical records.
An associate who works closely with Rodriguez denied that the player has ever tried to buy the documents, telling The Associated Press the Yankees slugger “doesn’t even care” what’s in the records. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Rodriguez did not authorize the release of that information.
Those familiar with the situation also told the AP that the person selling the documents has called representatives of players and MLB officials in recent weeks offering the records for a price. Baseball could try to use the documents in disciplinary proceedings against players under the sport’s drug agreement. The individual who provided the documents would be needed, presumably, to authenticate them in any grievance hearing.
MLB decided it was important to have the information, regardless of whether they ever are introduced in any disciplinary proceedings. MLB is not certain whether more documents will be offered.
Miami New Times reported in January that it obtained purported records detailing drug purchases by Rodriguez, 2012 All-Star game MVP Melky Cabrera, 2005 AL Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon and 2011 AL championship series MVP Nelson Cruz.
Other baseball players the newspaper said appeared in the records include Gio Gonzalez and Yasmani Grandal. Later, Yahoo Sports reported that 2011 NL MVP Ryan Braun was mentioned in the records.
Several players and their spokesmen have denied any improprieties.
MLB has sued Biogenesis and its operators in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, leading to the possibility it could attempt to obtain company documents in the civil suit. New Times turned down a request by MLB for material the paper obtained.
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AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami contributed to this report.
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