Braun Cooperates with the FEDS

[Outlaw]

Warning: Don't read if you are not interested.

Seems The Feds interviewed Ryan Braun very recently and he "fully" cooperated. I guess it explains why he has never really told what he did, when he did it and for how long he did the PEDS. Also numerous other players and athletes have been interviewed by both investigators and multiple Federal Grand Juries throughout the US (Miami, Madison, Phoenix, LA, Atlanta, Dallas and others). I'm hearing the list of athletes who were users/buyers, including baseball players is growing. Players are being asked point blank about their knowledge of other players/athletes using and its like a big spider web expanding.

The Feds are a little more than upset with MLB too it appears. Seems MLB's hired investigators did not play nice in obtaining some documents related to its BioGenisis Investigation. MLB recently terminated those involved. Word has it, The Feds really don't care now what MLB wants now and will have no issue when the time comes to release all the information and names of those involved. Whats got the FEDS upset is their investigations were going on for quite some time, way before MLB's and evidently MLB interfered somewhat with their Biogeneis investigation. The Feds are going after the suppliers, manufacturers and distribution rings, not really the players, but they will not have any issue taking down a athlete if they lie. The big questions to come are, what does MLB and other sports do, if and when other players names come out as being involved as buyers of PEDS. My gut says anyone who admitted to using to the FEDS will get suspended eventually. As for when this all happens, I have no idea, but it could be sometime since they are still pulling in players/athletes to talk too. The Federal part has been going on for almost 3 years.

I bet the word is out, at least throughout MLB, Better not use any PEDS, because MLB will be the least of your problems.

The Federal investigation has been going on for quite some time and not just baseball. The Federal investigation started for all PEDS and illegal Drugs in all sports by all athletes, by cooperation from Galea who has been providing info to the Feds, DEA, FDA, FBI for almost 3 years on athletes and clinics in 20 cities or more. It also involves some of the clinic operators who got "trained" at the Wellness Education school in California. The athletes and baseball players will mostly be safe from prosecution if they cooperate and tell the truth, but not all of them. The ones that were paying/funding any of these places to stay in business may get charged. It would be athletes that were paying 10x times the going rate for these illegal treatments or actually funding these operators. The baseball players involved that have not yet been suspended by MLB will have a choice when they testify and are asked Have you ever used PEDS?, Have you ever used this Drug? Have you ever paid this person for PEDS?, Have you ever used a third party to buy PEDS on your behalf, if yes, who? Eventually MLB and other sports will learn these names through this process and they will probably be forced or have to deal with them under their respective Sports Drug programs at that time

The documents Fischer has/had and has turned over now, appears to contain the proof and the names from 2009-2011-early 2012 mostly and all the other names Tony B has told MLB were involved. The players MLB already suspended were mostly users from 2012/13 where other corroborating proof existed to suspend them last year. My understanding is, Fischer was in possession of the real hard proof on these additional athletes/players that have not been suspended yet.

Sooner or later the Galea Federal investigation court case records will be unsealed and the names will come out and who used, some are known already. No athlete as of yet has been charged from that, probably because they cooperated and told the truth and were promised no charges. But IMO, that does not mean MLB or other sports cannot discipline them per their rules, CBA's, etc... the FEDS have rejected attempts by MLB and others to unseal those documents over the past 18 months, as they probably contain information on other suppliers and distribution methods and channels and how the players answered. The actual drug manufactures appear to also be part of this.

At the end of the day its just not going after the few Pro athletes, its about the millions of kids getting these illegal drugs form the same places. As the Taylor Hooten foundation has shown over the past 2 years, millions of kids are using this stuff and that is big $$$ to all these clinics and drug dealers. The Pro athletes are just the Poster child's in all this and the "adults" that can link it all together. Federal investigators are zeroing in on the clinics entire distribution network, including looking into whether any of thier clients resold controlled substances, supplied them to others or received fees or discounts for referrals.


Miami federal grand jury calls Biogenesis whistleblower Porter Fischer

Fischer also turned over mountains of records that link Rodriguez and scores of other athletes to the clinic at the center of MLB’s latest doping scandal to the grand jury, sources close to the case told the Daily News.

By Michael O’keeffe / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

If A-Rod or any other athletes lie to the grand jury, they could face perjury or obstruction charges.
Biogenesis whistleblower Porter Fischer was summoned last week before a Miami federal grand jury investigating the now-defunct South Florida anti-aging clinic that allegedly supplied performance-enhancing drugs to Alex Rodriguez and other Major League Baseball players.

Fischer also turned over mountains of records that link Rodriguez and scores of other athletes to the clinic at the center of MLB’s latest doping scandal to the grand jury, sources close to the case told the Daily News. “This means this is a serious matter,” said attorney David Weinstein, the former chief of the Miami U.S. Attorney’s narcotics division. “Prosecutors don’t start bringing in witnesses before a grand jury unless they already have an investigation underway.”

Rodriguez and the scores of other athletes linked to Biogenesis would not likely face prosecution, Weinstein said. But they could be called as witnesses as prosecutors try to determine how Biogenesis owner Anthony Bosch and his associates allegedly obtained performance-enhancing drugs and then supplied them to clients.

If Rodriguez or any other athletes lie to the grand jury, they could face perjury or obstruction charges, just as San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds and Olympic track star Marion Jones were hit with charges after they testified to the grand jury investigating the BALCO case a decade ago. “The documents will certainly give prosecutors additional sources of information and witnesses,” said Weinstein, who now heads the white-collar litigation division at Clarke Silverglate. “Any athlete whose name is on those documents is a potential witness. But they probably would not face criminal charges as long as they testify truthfully.”

MLB investigators, sources have told The News, are believed to have also unearthed evidence that suggests Rodriguez referred other players to Bosch and attempted to hinder baseball’s investigation into the clinic. Rodriguez could also face possible criminal charges if prosecutors believe he interfered in their investigation or was more than just a Biogenesis client.

The feds’ investigation is unlikely to derail MLB’s case against Rodriguez, who was suspended for 211 games earlier this month for his role in the Biogenesis scandal. Sources have told The News that MLB investigators are believed to have gathered more than enough evidence to convince arbitrator Fredric Horowitz that the unprecedented suspension is warranted.

MLB, which filed a tortious interference lawsuit against Bosch and other Biogenesis principals in March, asked the Miami-Dade circuit court judge presiding over the case to order Fischer to produce the records he took from the clinic after a dispute over money with Bosch. Weinstein said the grand jury investigation would not preclude MLB from getting the records, since MLB’s subpoena predated the grand jury subpoena.

But the records may not matter in the long run because Bosch already agreed to cooperate with MLB investigators earlier this year. MLB officials, in return, agreed to drop him from the lawsuit, pay legal costs affiliated with the Biogenesis case and put in a good word with federal investigators if he assisted them with their investigation.

The Miami investigation, however, does represent yet another chapter in MLB’s schizophrenic relationship with the federal government. Congressional leaders summoned commissioner Bud Selig, union chief Donald Fehr and other baseball officials to a series of hearings beginning in 2005, ordering them to strengthen baseball’s anti-doping program or face government intervention.

Prosecutors, for example, have not moved to unseal court documents linked to its prosecution of Anthony Galea, the Canadian sports physician who worked with Rodriguez, Tiger Woods and other athletes, even though that case was resolved nearly two years ago. Galea, a human growth hormone advocate, pleaded guilty in 2011 to bringing unapproved drugs to the United States, including HGH, for the purpose of treating athletes.

The sealed records in the Buffalo federal courthouse could give MLB investigators information about A-Rod’s relationship with the HGH guru, as well as Galea’s relationship with Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado and other players he treated. Fischer’s grand jury appearance was first reported by the Miami Herald. Fischer’s attorney, H. Scott Fingerhut, did not return requests for comment.

Gary Smith, Fischer’s crisis-management consultant, declined to comment on Wednesday, but he told The News earlier this month that Fischer, the clinic’s former marketing director, was willing to cooperate with prosecutors and share the Biogenesis documents.

[Bama]

Mlb will not not do a goddamn thing except buddy up to the union to try and protect the guilty, unless the names are leaked then they will feel compelled to do something.