Alex Rodriguez may claim he was duped by Biogenesis anti-aging clinic founder Anthony Bosch into taking performance enhancing drugs that led to his record-setting 211 game suspension, according to ESPN.
Hearings on the New York Yankees infielder's appeal are now underway in and some sources report at least part of his defense will be that he believed the drugs he was taking given to him by Biogenesis Clinic founder Anthony Bosch were legal.
"We cannot provide any details of this hearing as the Chair of the Arbitration Panel has issued an order prohibiting all parties from commenting publicly on the confidential proceedings, but what is being reported is NOT true," said a statement issued Wednesday by Ron Berkowitz, Rodriguez's publicist.
Over the first two days of the proceedings, sources told ESPN Rodriguez's defense team has yet to formally present any evidence outside of opening statements before arbitrator Fredric Horowitz. Instead, early proceedings have been dominated by MLB officials and are soon expected to include testimony from Bosch.
Rodriguez was suspended Aug. 5 for alleged violations of baseball's drug agreement and labor contract. Because he's a first-time offender under the drug program and the players' association filed a grievance to force an appeal, a suspension can't start until it is upheld by an arbitrator.
In all, 14 players were penalized in connection with the Biogenesis probe, including former National League MVP Ryan Braun, who missed the season's final 65 games for the Milwaukee Brewers
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