The fallout from New Times' January investigation into Biogenesis, the Coral Gables anti-aging clinic tied to selling athletes performance-enhancing drugs, looks ready to come to a head this week. Last night, USA Today reported that Major League Baseball was "prepared" to suspend eight players, including a lifetime ban for Alex Rodriguez.
Now comes word from ESPN that, faced with that threat, A-Rod is negotiating a deal for a long suspension instead. The Miami Herald, meanwhile, reports that Biogenesis' owner, Tony Bosch is now the subject of a federal probe.
See also: Tony Bosch and Biogenesis: MLB Steroid Scandal
When USA Today reported on baseball's willingness to pursue a lifetime ban for A-Rod, who is accused of interfering with baseball's investigation into Biogenesis, some pundits speculated the news was leaked to push A-Rod toward negotiating a settlement rather than fighting a suspension at an arbitration hearing.
According to ESPN's Outside the Lines, at least, the tactic worked. Faced with that threat and "volumes" of documented evidence from Bosch, A-Rod's reps are negotiating a "lengthy suspension," ESPN says.
Bosch might have his own legal problems after he finishes helping MLB with its PED probe. Federal investigators are now looking into whether Biogenesis sold drugs to high-schoolers, the Miami Herald reports.
Two assistant U.S. attorneys, Patrick Sullivan and Sharad Motiania, have requested an interview with Porter Fischer -- who leaked Biogenesis documents to New Times last year -- to discuss the allegations.
This morning's final, and most depressing, update comes from TMZ. The gossip site's "Hooters sources" provided pictures showing what A-Rod has been up to during the latest tug-of-war over his future: eating hot wings at a Sarasota Hooters.
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