University of Miami Biogenesis Scandal: School Review Finds No PEDs Distributed to Student-Athletes
ByThe University of Miami (UM) took a backseat to some of baseball's best sluggers when news broke of the Biogenesis performance-enhancing drug (PED) scandal, but the school found they did nothing wrong.
According to the Associated Press, UM announced an internal investigation into strength trainer Jimmy Goins turned up no evidence that he administered PEDs to student-athletes. Both Ryan Braun and Alex Rodriguez, who Major League Baseball punished for their involvement with the Biogenesis clinic, are former UM student-athletes.
The Miami New Times first broke news of Biogenesis, an anti-aging clinic run by Anthony Bosch, a man who falsely identified himself as a doctor. The newspaper obtained Bosch's personal client records, which listed more than a dozen prominent players on MLB teams. Implicated in the scandal was that Rodriguez and Braun received PEDs while playing for the UM Hurricanes, opening questions as to how many other players were doing the same.
When the news broke, UM suspended and fired Goins, who at the time was working with the baseball and track teams.
"More than fifteen months ago, former University of Miami strength coach Jimmy Goins was alleged to have purchased and used performance enhancing drugs from Biogenesis, and speculation followed about the potential involvement of student-athletes or staff in our baseball program," UM said in a statement to the AP. "At that time, the University initiated a comprehensive review of the employee and the baseball program, announced publicly on January 29, 2013.
"After more than 50 interviews... as well as third-party drug testing of all then-current UM baseball student-athletes, the review concluded that the allegations of involvement beyond Mr. Goins were unsubstantiated."
Bosch agreed to cooperate with MLB in exchange for immunity for whatever of his wrongdoings he revealed. His cooperation led to 14 PED suspensions, Braun's for 65 games and Rodriguez' for the entirety of the 2014 season.
"UM will continue to ensure that our strict policies, methods, discipline and reliability of drug tests continues to evolve with the world of sports," UM said. "Miami is committed to fair play and the integrity of all of our athletic endeavors."