MLB History: Biogenesis Suspensions Handed Down

The MLB had taken a lot of heat over the years for PED usage in the game. When they announced the discipline for the Biogenesis Laboratories scandal, the game showed that it meant business.

It had all started with a report in the Miami New Times on January 23, 2013. On that day, it was reported that Biogenesis Laboratories, run by what was later proven to be a fraudulent doctor in Tony Bosch, had been providing PEDs to numerous professional athletes, including quite a few players in the MLB. Players such as Alex Rodriguez, who had quite a few rumors of PED usage already, and Ryan Braun, who had been suspended for PEDs only to have his suspension overturned by an arbitrator, were amongst those players named.

With quite a few prominent names involved, and the sanctity of the game at stake, the MLB conducted an exhaustive investigation. Bosch was brought in to testify, and on July 22, Braun agreed to serve his 65 game suspension, refusing to contest the evidence that had been stacked against him, missing the rest of the season.

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While the rest of the baseball community waited for the axe to drop following Braun’s banishment, the rest of the suspensions were coming. It was on this day in 2013 that the MLB announced their punishments. Antonio Bastardo, Everth Cabrera, Francisco Cervelli, Nelson Cruz, Jesus Montero, Jhonny Peralta, and Jordany Valdespin, along with five minor league players, were suspended for 50 games.

Three other players, Bartolo Colon, Melky Cabrera, and Yasmani Grandal, who had already served 50 game suspensions for PED usage, were not suspended, as the second suspension would have resulted in double jeopardy. Two other players named in the report, Gio Gonzalez and Danny Valencia, were exonerated when no evidence of their involvement could be found. Alex Rodriguez was suspended for 211 games, but had his suspension dropped to the entirety of the 2014 season, including the playoffs, on appeal.

In being proactive in their investigation, and in conducting such a thorough investigation, the MLB curtailed what could have been an even bigger black eye. Yes, seeing some of the bigger stars in the game be suspended for PED usage could not be a positive, yet baseball came out of the scandal looking better than the rest of the other major sports when it came to dealing with their PED issues.

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While the MLB may never be entirely clean, the suspensions stemming from the Biogenesis scandal served a reminder as to the power of the league, and public perception, when it comes to the players. Hopefully, this case will continue to be a deterrent for some time to come.