Fansided

ACES agency accused of providing MLB players with PEDs

By Neil Harrington |
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 24: A man uses heroin under a bridge where he lives with other addicts in the Kensington section of Philadelphia which has become a hub for heroin use on January 24, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Over 900 people died in 2016 in Philadelphia from opioid overdoses, a 30 percent increase from 2015. As the epidemic shows no signs of weakening, the number of fatalities this year is expected to surpass last year's numbers. Heroin use has doubled across the country since 2010, according to the DEA, part of an epidemic. Officials from Philadelphia recently announced that they want to become the first U.S. city to allow supervised drug injection sites as a way to combat the opioid epidemic. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 24: A man uses heroin under a bridge where he lives with other addicts in the Kensington section of Philadelphia which has become a hub for heroin use on January 24, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Over 900 people died in 2016 in Philadelphia from opioid overdoses, a 30 percent increase from 2015. As the epidemic shows no signs of weakening, the number of fatalities this year is expected to surpass last year's numbers. Heroin use has doubled across the country since 2010, according to the DEA, part of an epidemic. Officials from Philadelphia recently announced that they want to become the first U.S. city to allow supervised drug injection sites as a way to combat the opioid epidemic. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Juan Carlos Nunez has filed a suit against his former company, ACES, which is linked to providing MLB players with Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs).

The recent blackeye of the MLB, known as the “steroid era” has reared it’s ugly head once again, with a significant lawsuit filled against ACES (Athletes’ Careers Enhanced and Secured Inc.), a company who represents MLB players as their agents. This particular lawsuit, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, was filed by a former employee, Juan Carlos Nunez, who was linked to PEDs himself in the past.

In a USA Today report from 2013, Sam and Seth Levinson — founders of ACES, claimed that Nunez was:

Nothing more than a rogue employee who provided clients with performance-enhancing drugs from the defunct Biogenesis clinic.

The tables have turned, with their former employee pointing the finger right back at the Levinsons, in a classic case of “my word against yours,” with neither parties taking responsibility for such claims.

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The Levinson brothers worked their way to the top from the streets of Brooklyn, and have represented elite MLB players, including the likes of numerous MLB All-Stars, Gold Glove winners, Silver Sluggers, an All-Star MVP, a World Series MVP, and the list goes on and on.

As of 2016, ACES had earned approximately $3 billion in deals for their respective clients and ranked as high as third on Forbes list the most influential sporting agency — according to a 2016 Forbes publication.

In 2013, former San Diego Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera, provided a damning testimony, accusing the ACES agency of providing him with PEDs, mentioning Nunez by name. Cabrera received a suspension of 50 games for his use of banned substances and regrets that decision to this very day.

Cabrera told Nicaraguan journalist Levi Luna in 2013 regarding Nunez that:

“He was the one who got it (PEDs) into my head. When you come to this country, you come with a little bit of naiveté. Juan Nunez represented me when I came to this country. I came and I had confidence in him, in a person who was trying to help me at that time.”

Due to his PED connection, Cabera has not played in MLB since 2015. No matter who is to blame, which time will tell and shed light on the issue, which we seem to just be scratching the surface. Ironically, the ACES mission statement reads as follows:

ACES has for more than 25 years represented Professional Baseball Players in all phases of their careers. We absolutely believe that it is our character, work ethic, integrity and never-ending commitment to the Player which sets us apart from all others in the industry.

Using words such as “character” and “integrity” appear to a be a bit of false advertising, and even if Nunez went “rogue,” as the Levinsons claim, it’s hard to imagine that they were in the dark on the matter. Nevertheless, this is not good for the elite ACES agency, and they may never recover from this mess.

Meanwhile, players represented by ACES past and present are no doubt shaking in their spikes, knowing that their names may be drug through the mud as well — no doubt dialing up some legal counsel as we speak. What a complete and utter mess.

Next: Esteban Loaiza arrested with an absurd amount of drugs

It’s the second significant “drug bust” connected with MLB this week thus, far. Whether it’s cocaine or PEDs, they certainly are one helluva drug, aren’t they?

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