The founder of a Coral Gables clinic accused of providing banned performance-enhancing drugs to Major League Baseball Players in one of the biggest scandals in the sport's history will plead guilty and cooperate with authorities, his attorney said Wednesday.
Anthony Bosch, the founder of anti-aging clinic Biogenesis of America, has reached a deal with the government that will require him to fully cooperate with the U.S. Attorney's Office and the DEA, attorney Guy Lewis said.
Lewis made the announcement during a federal court hearing Wednesday. The plea will be formally entered during a hearing in October.
Bosch has been charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
Bosch and other Biogenesis employees are accused of providing performance-enhancing drugs to MLB players, high school athletes and others, though only the suppliers, not the users, are facing charges.
Court documents say that from October 2008 through December 2012, Bosch willfully conspired to distribute the anabolic steroid testosterone.
Fourteen players associated with the clinic were disciplined by MLB last year, including 13 suspensions. New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez was suspended for the entire 2014 season, while Ryan Braun, an MVP winner with the Milwaukee Brewers, was suspended 65 games during the 2013 season.
A Miami New Times report from January 2013, which sparked MLB's investigation, said Rodriguez had bought human growth hormone and other substances from 2009 to 2012 from Biogenesis. The newspaper said it had obtained records detailing the purchases by Rodriguez and other ballplayers.
MLB filed a lawsuit against Bosch and several others connected to the clinic but dropped the suit in February after Bosch agreed to cooperate with them.
Bosch's charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
