Report: Gonzalez did not receive PEDs from Biogenesis

VIERA, Fla. - Ever since being linked to Biogenesis, a Miami-area anti-aging clinic that allegedly was supplying performance-enhancing drugs to major league players, and its founder, Tony Bosch, Gio Gonzalez has denied any wrongdoing or PED usage. "At the end of the day," Gonzalez said a week ago, "I've never taken performance-enhancing drugs, and I never will." A report from ESPN's "Outside the Lines" backs up Gonzalez's claim. The report cites two sources familiar with Bosch's operation who claim that Gonzalez did not, in fact, receive banned substances from Bosch or Biogenesis. According to the report, both of ESPN's sources "identified Gonzalez as the only Bosch client named thus far who did not receive performance-enhancing drugs." "Outside the Lines" obtained a computer printout of Biogenesis clients, and on the document, Gonzalez (whose code name, according to the report, was "Gladiator") was said to have received $1,000 worth of substances, but none of the substances listed are banned by Major League Baseball. Gonzalez said last week that he had "no clue" why his name had been in Bosch's records other than the fact that his father, Max, had been a "legitimate patient" of Bosch's. Max Gonzalez told the Miami New Times, the outlet that originally broke open the Biogenesis story, that he went to Bosch looking to lose weight. One of the references to Gio Gonzalez in Bosch's records listed the substance "pink cream" next to his name. Pink cream is a synthetic testosterone. Gonzalez said he has never used pink cream and had no idea why it was listed next to his name. The Nationals left-hander, who went 21-8 with a 2.89 ERA last season and finished third in the National League Cy Young Award voting, is scheduled to pitch for Team USA in the second round of the World Baseball Classic, should Team USA make it out of pool play. This report does not clear Gonzalez of wrongdoing just as the Miami New Times report did not prove his guilt. Gonzalez is not out of the woods yet when it comes to a possible suspension, which could be handed down by Major League Baseball if the league's investigation finds evidence that any player purchased or used performance-enhancers. But the ESPN report certainly puts Gonzalez's name in more favorable light when it comes to the Biogenesis case.