Washington Nationals Pitcher Gio Gonzalez “Stunned” to See Name in PEDs Report
By Josh Hill
When a professional athlete gets busted using performance enhancing drugs, the first reaction is to deny, deny, deny. Even if you’re guilty, the best plan seems to be to deny you ever used steroids, even if you’re wagging your finger in front of a congressional committee. Washington Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez isn’t committing perjury but he is putting on his best “whaaaaat” face upon hearing news he showed up in the logs of a Miami steroids clinic.
According to USA Today, Gonzalez is “stunned” to see his name show up on the report from the Biogenesis documents obtained by Major League Baseball.
“I have never taken performance-enhancing drugs and I never will,” Gonzalez said, via USA Today. “I have cooperated fully with Major League Baseball’s investigation, done everything they wanted.”
Gonzalez’s name showed up in the logs of a Miami “wellness center” that seems to have been a massive front for one of the biggest steroids clinics in North America. Alex Rodriguez was the biggest name to show up in the report but athletes from all walks of life showed up in the books. Despite the evidence, Gonzalez insists he’s innocent and his accomplishments this past season need not be questioned by anyone.
“Do I think I have anything to prove to anyone? Absolutely not. Fifteen wins, 16 wins, 21 wins, a two-time All-Star. I think my résumé speaks for itself.”
To his credit, Gonzalez has an easier case to argue than fellow ballplayers Melky Cabrera, Nelson Cruz and the aforementioned A-Rod. While those players had their names clearly show up next to PEDs, Gonzalez’s name showed up next to a “pink cream” as well as notations such as “zinc,” “l-glut,” and “l-argin.”
USA Today reports that Gonzalez said he has already met with Major League Baseball investigators and denies any link between himself and the clinic Biogenesis and it’s head Anthony Bosch. He also says that he plans on staying as far away from PEDs as humanly possible in baseball.
“I’m going to do my best to keep it away from the locker room,” he said. “I don’t want any of this to be a distraction to the team. I don’t want any of this to be about me.”