The Biogenesis Scandal took the MLB by surprise in 2013 and resulted in 14 simultaneous suspensions of 50 games or more. The former owner of Biogenesis of America, Anthony Bosch, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute testosterone earlier today. His sentencing is set for December 18.
Bosch faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, but he's likely to get less time because he pleaded guilty and cooperated with authorities throughout the entire investigation. He provided Bud Selig and the MLB with pertinent documents that unearthed the involvement of 14 players at the clinic who were receiving performance-enhancing drugs. Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees (162 games) and Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers (65 games) received the largest suspensions as a result of the scandal, with the other 12 culprits being handed 50-game bans.
Bosch, also known as "Dr. T," supplied performance-enhancing drugs to MLB players and teenagers. The "anti-aging" clinic was located in South Florida and specialized in weight loss and hormone replacement therapy before it closed in December of 2012. A former Biogenesis employee by the name of Porter Fisher supplied documents to the Miami New Times on January 22, 2013, which showed MLB players Melky Cabrera, Bartolo Colon and Yasmani Grandal were involved with the clinic. The three tested positive for PEDs in 2012 and were suspended by the MLB, but were not disciplined when the new information about Biogenesis was leaked.
As a result, the Florida Department of Health and the MLB took legal action against Bosch, which ultimately ended with a DEA investigation that put him in handcuffs. He and nine others surrendered to the DEA in early August after a two-year investigation dubbed "Operation Strikeout." Shortly thereafter, Bosch reached a deal to eventually plead guilty to conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids between October 2008 and December 2012.
Bosch came clean today and will be sentenced later in December. The former owner of the clinic admitted to providing testosterone to baseball players (professionals and high school athletes) and has agreed to testify against others who were charged in the case. But this does not bring an end to the unrelenting investigation of the distribution of illegal substances.
"I'd like to point out that this investigation is not over," said Mark Trouville, the DEA special agent in charge of the Miami division, via this New York Daily News article back in August. "I'd like to send a message to those individuals who illegally distribute PEDs (performance-enhancing drugs) and other controlled substances, and the recruiters of underage high school athletes who pose as mentors and advisers to these people. The DEA will continue to investigate you."
