Nats glad to move on from Biogenesis

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For Gio Gonzalez' teammates on the Washington Nationals, there was a clear sense of relief to see their comrade have his named cleared on Monday in the Biogenesis scandal of performance enhancing drugs. There have may have been more joy, however, in knowing they likely won't have to talk about it ever again.

Several players that spoke on the issue expressed a sense of exhaustion about the entire subject. They want to see the game played clean and fair, and wish it wasn't so hard to keep it that way.

"I’m so over it. I don’t even care anymore. Literally don’t care," Adam LaRoche said.

"This stuff has been going on for a long time," Ryan Zimmerman said. "Everyone knows how we all feel about it."

The root of their frustration seems to have a lot to do with the fact they want a level playing field. Those that use performance enhancing drugs gain an advantage over those who don't cheat and they feel that's unfair.

"For a guy that doesn’t do anything, for 95 percent of the guys that don’t do anything, it’s a tough game to play every day. It’s not fair for other guys to have an advantage like that," Zimmerman said. 

"My career has gone okay without that or whatever those guys have tried to do. But I think it’s more unfair for the guys who are the last two or three on the roster who play the game the right way. They fight to try and make the big leagues and maybe sometimes the last two or three guys who made it used these kinds of things, those are the guys I really feel bad for. They try to do it the right way."

MLB: No punishment for Gonzalez

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Updated at 5:36 p.m.

By Mark Zuckerman and Chase Hughes

Major League Baseball's long-awaited announcement of suspensions for players who received performance-enhancing drugs from the Biogenesis clinic in Miami has confirmed what the Nationals expected all along: No punishment for Gio Gonzalez.

The left-hander has been cleared of any wrongdoing by MLB, which officially announced suspensions today but said the investigation found "no violations of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program" by Gonzalez.

"I am very pleased that Major League Baseball has cleared my name," Gonzalez said in a statement released by the Nationals. "With this process now complete, I have no lingering sense of animosity, as I quickly realized that the objective of this investigation was to clean up our game. This is an ideal that I share with both Major League Baseball and the MLBPA. I would also like to acknowledge the unwavering support of my teammates, the Lerner Family, Mike Rizzo, Davey Johnson, our coaching staff and Nationals fans everywhere."

Gonzalez's teammates said they're glad the pitcher can put this behind him now and perhaps be vindicated from the initial accusations

"He really shouldn't have been mentioned anyway," said reliever Tyler Clippard, one of the club's union representatives. "I think that it's unfortunate he was on the list to begin with. He's obviously been doing the right things. Gio's a good guy and he wasn't cheating. For him to be on the list in the first place is kind of unfortunate, but I guess this is good for him to get a clean slate."

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Report: Gio unlikely to be suspended by MLB

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Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez is not expected to be among the players facing suspension by Major League Baseball for their connection with the Biogenesis clinic in Miami, according to a new ESPN report.

That report, posted tonight on ESPN.com, said MLB is seeking to suspend about 20 players believed to have received performance enhancing drugs from Biogenesis, including stars Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun.

Gonzalez's name was initially tied to Biogenesis and founder Anthony Bosch in a Miami New Times article published in late-January, but the pitcher denied any connection and a subsequent ESPN report said he received only legal substances from the clinic.

In tonight's report, ESPN said Gonzalez will be "scrutinized but possibly exonerated" by MLB, which has been conducting its own

MLBPA: Gonzalez passed drug tests

VIERA, Fla. -- Gio Gonzalez was informed today he passed drug tests taken two days after the Nationals left-hander was initially linked to a Miami clinic under investigation for providing ballplayers with performance enhancing drugs.

Gonzalez, who has maintained his innocence all along, revealed he gave both blood and urine samples on Jan. 31 at the request of Major League Baseball (which has the right to test any player for whom there is "reasonable cause" to suspect PED use). The players association today informed him those tests came back negative.

"Like I said before, I've never taken performance-enhancing drugs and I never will," Gonzalez said in a brief statement today at Space Coast Stadium. "Two days after the story broke, I was tested for blood and urine, and both came out negative, like I expected. Throughout my entire career, it's been like that. I look forward to handling this with MLB, putting this behind me and looking forward to the season."

Though this doesn't officially close the book on Gonzalez's potential link to the Biogenesis clinic at the center of MLB's investigation, it does move the Cy Young Award finalist one step closer to putting
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Gonzalez responds to latest report

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Gio Gonzalez throws a pitch during today's live batting practice drill.

VIERA, Fla. -- In the wake of a new report that says he never received any banned substances from the Miami clinic under investigation by Major League Baseball for distributing performance enhancing drugs, Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez expressed confidence today he'll be cleared of all wrongdoing.

ESPN's "Outside the Lines" reported Tuesday night that while Gonzalez did receive $1,000 worth of substances from embattled Biogenesis chief Anthony Bosch, none were considered PEDs. The pitcher, who has denied ever taking any PEDs or even knowing Bosch since an initial Miami New Times report connected him with the clinic, said today he's still waiting to hear official word from MLB but seemed pleased with the direction the issue is headed.

"I'm going to be honest with you, I haven't heard anything yet officially from MLB," Gonzalez said this afternoon at Space Coast Stadium following the Nationals' workout. "I do plan on sitting down and cooperating with them. I want to get this all done before the season starts. This is all new to me, guys. I do plan on getting ready, looking forward to spring training, and I feel confident this is going to come out good."

The Nationals again did not let Gonzalez appear on camera and would not allow follow-up questions on the Biogenesis story,
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Report: Gio didn't get any PEDs from Bosch

Associated Press

Gio Gonzalez denied ever taking any PEDs when he reported to camp last week.

VIERA, Fla. -- A new investigative report into the Miami clinic charged with supplying performance enhancing drugs to major leaguers says Gio Gonzalez received only legal substances, further suggesting the Nationals left-hander won't face any discipline from MLB.

ESPN's "Outside the Lines" reported tonight at least 25 players received PEDs from Biogenesis, but Gonzalez was not one of them.

Gonzalez did receive $1,000 worth of substances, but those listed are not banned by MLB: glutathione (an anti-oxidant) and intramuscular shots of methionine, inositol and choline. Those shots are often used for weight loss, which could suggest they were for Gonzalez's father, Max, who has admitted being a client of Biogenesis chief Anthony Bosch's weight-loss clinic.

Gonzalez is the only player who has been tied to Biogenesis so far who did not receive PEDs, two independent sources told ESPN.
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Gio "very confident" he'll be cleared

VIERA, Fla. -- Reiterating that he's never taken performance enhancing drugs, Gio Gonzalez reported to Nationals spring training this morning and said he's already spoken to MLB investigators looking into the left-hander's connection with a Miami clinic suspected of dealing PEDs.

"I've cooperated," he said. "I've done everything they wanted me to do."

Gonzalez spoke to print reporters for 15 minutes inside the dugout at Space Coast Stadium, the first five on his connection to the Biogenesis clinic, and appeared as loose and carefree as he was throughout his 21-win season with the Nationals.

The 27-year-old pitcher said he's "very confident" he'll be cleared by MLB of any wrongdoing and expanded on his initial Jan. 29 statement denying any relationship with Biogenesis or its chief, Anthony Bosch. The Miami New Times published pages from Bosch's notebook that included Gonzalez's name listed next to several substances. None appear to be obvious illegal performance enhancers, though one was referred to as "pink cream," a substance Gonzalez said today he has never heard of.
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VIDEO: What happens to Gio?

Gio Gonzalez's potential connection to a Miami clinic allegedly distributing performance enhancing drugs creates a complicated situation for the left-hander and for the Nationals. On Thursday evening's edition of SportsNet Central, I discussed this situation with CSN's Nicole Darin and speculated what, if any, ramifications it could have for Gonzalez and the Nats.