Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Kasten: No tie to steroids doctor

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The Nationals insist they have never had an association with a Northern Virginia chiropractor arrested this morning in connection with the Florida steroids dealer who upon his arrest last year claimed he sold to members of the Nats and Capitals.

Dr. Douglas Owen Nagel, of Reston, was arrested and charged with one count of conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance and seven counts of solicitation to deliver a controlled substance. On a list of doctors speaking at a 2009 event called the Annual Baseball Team Medicine Conference, Nagel referred to himself as a chiropractic consultant to the Nats and Caps.

"I've never heard of the gentleman before today," Nationals president Stan Kasten said before tonight's game against the Tigers. "He's not associated in any way with the Nationals, never has been. Our trainers have never had anything to do with him. We have no knowledge of anything about him. At all. Period."

Nagel is accused of buying steroids from Lakeland resident Richard Thomas, who last year was arrested in a major drug bust and then claimed to officials he had sold steroids to players from both the Nationals and Capitals. Those claims were never substantiated.

Thomas pleaded guilty Nov. 10 in federal court to possession with intent to distribute anabolic steroids. His sentence, which could include a maximum penalty of five years in prison, is still pending.

7 comments:

natsfan1a said...

Thanks for the legwork and follow up on this matter.

Anonymous said...

If Doc Nagel was selling steroid to Nats players, I doubt he would have been stupid enough to go through Stan Kasten. Beyond that, I doubt any player would have gone to Stan Kasten and reported that he was using steriods provided by Doc Nagel. Thus, Kasten's denial doesn't end this potential mess.

Anonymous8 said...

Here is what was said in the police interview.
WASHINGTON CAPITALS NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE.

Do you think some idiot read it as Washington Capitals National blah blah blah and came up with Washington National?

Anonymous8 said...

From the Washington Post...A Washington Capitals trainer told detectives in an interview last fall he referred three or four current Capitals and one former player to the chiropractor, Douglas Owen Nagel, 50, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation. The trainer said some players only saw the chiropractor one time, the source said.

Anonymous said...

Comments by Kasten or any other sports people on this subject have no credibility.

Andrew said...

I think this time it is strictly guilt my name association.

Doc said...

Asking Kasten about this issue has about the same level of credibility as interviewing the team mascot on the subject.

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