Biogenesis scandal

[1] After an ex-employee, annoyed over missing back-pay, revealed clinic records that were "clear in describing the firm's real business: selling performance-enhancing drugs",[2][3] MLB sued six people connected to Biogenesis, accusing them of damaging the sport by providing banned substances to its players.

Biogenesis of America was a health clinic briefly operating in Coral Gables, Florida, specializing in weight loss and hormone replacement therapy.

[3] On January 22, 2013, the Miami New Times obtained documents from former Biogenesis employee Porter Fischer which it said linked three players – Melky Cabrera, Bartolo Colón and Yasmani Grandal – who had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2012 to the clinic.

In March, MLB sued Bosch, and his business partners, Carlos Acevedo, Ricardo Martinez, Marcelo Albir, and Paulo da Silveira in an attempt to obtain information.

The suit alleged that the six had "actively participated in a scheme ... to solicit or induce Major League players to purchase or obtain PES (performing-enhancing substances)".

[8] In August, Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. attorney for the southern district of Florida, announced that Bosch intended to plead guilty to one charge of conspiracy to distribute testosterone.

[9] In September, ESPN reported that new client names had been released, previously unknown to the public, which included names such as professional wrestler "Paul 'The Big Show' Wight; former boxing champion Shannon Briggs; one of the most well-known trainers of prominent athletes, David Alexander; and Ernest "Randy" Mims, a longtime friend and business manager of LeBron James.

"[10] On July 22, 2013, MLB suspended Milwaukee Brewers player Ryan Braun for the remainder of the 2013 season (65 games and the postseason) for his involvement with the Biogenesis clinic.

Twelve other players connected to the Biogenesis case agreed to 50-game suspensions without the right to appeal: Antonio Bastardo, Everth Cabrera, Francisco Cervelli, Nelson Cruz, Fautino de los Santos, Sergio Escalona, Fernando Martínez, Jesús Montero, Jordan Norberto, Jhonny Peralta, César Puello, and Jordany Valdespin.

[13] Rodriguez, who received the longest suspension of all the players linked to Biogenesis, was punished for "his use and possession of numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including testosterone and human growth hormone, over the course of multiple years" and "for his attempts to cover up those violations and obstruct a league investigation", according to MLB.