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LeBron James Was Investigated By DEA Agents For PEDs In 2013

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In 2013, LeBron James was among a number of professional athletes investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for allegedly using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) from the now-defunct rejuvenation clinic Biogenesis of America.

The federal Biogenesis investigation was dubbed “Operation Strikeout.” A disgruntled ex-employee, irritated over missing back-pay, leaked clinic records that were “clear in describing the firm’s real business: selling performance-enhancing drugs.”

As a result, the MLB sued six people connected to Biogenesis, accusing them of damaging the sport by providing banned substances to its players. In July 2013, 14 involved players received lengthy suspensions of 50 or more games (almost a third of a season). Likewise, a total of 21 players were suspended.

The most notable MLB players involved included Alex Rodriguez, Nelson Cruz, and Ryan Braun. Other baseball players listed were Antonio Bastardo, Everth Cabrera, Francisco Cervelli, Jhonny Peralta, Jordany Valdespin, Jesús Montero, César Puello, Sergio Escalona, Fernando Martínez, Fautino de los Santos, and Jordan Norberto.

The investigation also led to the conviction of clinic mastermind Anthony “Tony” Bosch, a biochemist and program director, and seven associates. Tony’s father, Dr. Pedro Bosch, was listed as the medical director. Bosch’s younger brother, attorney Ashley Bosch, was listed as managing member.

Not to mention, Porter Fischer was listed as marketing director. Several employees quit in the fall of 2012 after they were not paid. The clinic closed months later in December 2012.

Former Miami Heat star LeBron James was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in 2013 for PEDs, never did anything wrong in biogenesis probe

Furthermore, what had not yet been known at the time in more than 1,400 pages of unredacted federal investigative documents were the names of other athletes and prominent figures. The alleged drug users ranged from world champion boxers and wrestlers to fitness gurus. As a matter of fact, entertainers and police officers were also featured.

Ernest “Randy” Mims, a close friend and business manager of LeBron James, was among the individuals mentioned in the 1,400 pages. Former WWE star Paul “The Big Show” Wight, ex-boxing champion Shannon Briggs, and sports trainer David Alexander were listed as well.

According to report by ESPN, federal authorities found nothing to suggest that Alexander or Mims provided any PEDs to any athletes. However, both had a relationship with James. Their involvement caused investigators to look at whether James might have used PEDs.

Moreover, DEA agents learned that Alexander was the personal trainer of James’ wife. Kevin Stanfill, the former DEA investigator, said that because of the duo’s connection, the DEA examined whether Alexander’s actions had any connection to James and determined that they did not.

“I can tell you that we looked into everything just because we knew this day would come. … She wasn’t getting any supplements, anything like that. … There was never any indication that LeBron James did anything wrong.”

David Alexander was the personal trainer of James’ wife, Savannah James; his wife did not receive supplements

Mims, 47, was described in the investigative documents as the “manager of LeBron James (Miami Heat basketball player).” Carlos Acevedo, a former Bosch business partner, ran his own performance-enhancing drug operation. Acevedo and eventually became an informant for federal agents in the drug distribution case and was later was convicted for his role.

Additionally, Mims had purchased testosterone, metabolism-boosting injections, and a blood draw by an unlicensed phlebotomist from Acevedo. Federal documents describe his purchases as “for his personal use.”

Acevedo told authorities Mims paid him $300 a purchase. Mims remained a client for about two months before he cut business ties with him after complaining about how the drugs made him feel.

In the end, Mims was never charged with any crime and LeBron James never failed a drug test.

Earlier this year in March, James was accused of using PEDs by former UFC star and self-confessed drug cheat Chael Sonnen. Of course, Sonnen claimed he and LeBron have the same “drug guy”.

“Other basketball players will hear about what LeBron does and go, ‘That doesn’t matter.’ If you knew what these performance enhancers did, you’d know it does matter,” Sonnen said in a new episode of the Flagrant podcast.

“We have the same drug guy, I know exactly what he’s doing,” Sonnen claimed. “EPO [Erythropoietin] matters, it’s the reason LeBron takes it. It matters. EPO increases your red blood cells, which gives you the endurance to play all game long. … It’s the king of performance enhancers. EPO is king to everything. That’s why cyclists do it.”

Even if it’s true, LeBron James has still never failed a drug test. In fact, Lamar Odom was one of the few NBA players to be suspended twice for violating the league’s anti-drug policy. Besides, he admitted to using marijuana after the suspension.

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Austin Reaves argues that the Lakers have the most talented NBA roster

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September 28, 2023

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If we judge the Lakers by the way they ended last season, you can understand why they are hyped for this upcoming campaign. After they made it to the Western Conference Finals and only lost to the eventual champions, the purple and gold administration decided to maintain their core of players ahead of next month’s start of the new competition. 

Austin Reaves was probably one of the highlights of the season, as the rising star is considered by many as the third most influential player in their roster. Now that they’ve added players like Christian Wood, Gabe Vincent and Taurean Prince this summer, the 25-year-old believes they possess the most talented squad in the league.

“Yeah, I do. Like you said we brought back basically a core that went to the Western Conference Finals,” he said on Zach Lowe’s podcast this week. “You can call it fluky whatever you want, but after the trade deadline I think we had maybe the second or third best record in the league…Like you said [LeBron] being hurt, not even really having any time to mesh really. Things were, after the trade deadline, kinda just thrown out there.”

The Los Angeles guard believes that now they’ll finally have the time to tighten their chemistry together, something that he considers the Denver Nuggets had and gave them last season’s title.

“We had so much talent and we relied on our talent so much that it took us that far…I think, especially now and then training camp coming up, us being able to have the opportunity to grow [chemistry], and just situations to where like in the fourth if we have a couple bad possessions that we know exactly what we’re gonna get to…Just those little things, having this whole time to learn that and do that, I think that’ll elevate us to another level,” Reaves explained.

Now that they are a month away from the new campaign, the 25-year-old couldn’t hide his excitement for the trade moves their front office pulled during the summer.

“We brought in a lot of guys that are super talented,” Austin expressed. “I would argue we have the most talented roster in the league from top to bottom. Getting Christian Wood on a minimum. Gabe [Vincent] coming from a Finals appearance. We have a lot of guys that are super talented and just getting this time to really build a foundation with one another is gonna help us a lot.”

Reaves admitted that at some point he felt allured by the opportunity of playing alongside Victor Wembanyama

One of the teams which is mostly rumored to have wanted to sign Reaves was the Spurs, who Austin admitted on the “Lowe Post Podcast” that he did imagine himself playing next to Victor Wembanyama. However, he was convinced the Lakers would match any offer for him.

”…You know you hear things, and obviously with Wembanyama, like, you know so much upside with him, you know, your mind kind of just wonders into that basketball world what that would be like…,” he said.

“I didn’t think that there was any way that the Lakers didn’t match whatever was offered,” the LA guard admitted. “They pretty much made it pretty clear that they would match whatever. At the end of the day, I wanted to be in L.A. I love it out here, love the organization, the fans. Obviously, I wish that I could’ve got as much money as possible, but like I said, fit and opportunity, here in L.A. was really what we wanted and really where we wanted to be.”

At the end of the day, Reaves received exactly what he wanted. The Lakers offered as much as they could ever  give him, a four-year $53.8 million contract with a player option in the final season.





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James Harden Expected to Skip 76ers Media Day

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4 hours ago

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September 28, 2023

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James Harden demanded a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers this past June after he exercised his $35.6 million player option for the 2023-24 season, and since the 10-time All-Star has yet to be traded, NBA insiders are speculating that he’ll skip Sixers Media Day next Monday.

Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer provided his take on the disgruntled star. “First of all, I don’t expect him to be [at Media Day on Monday], I just don’t,” he said on SiriusXM NBA Radio. “The first thing I want to ask him is what did [Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey] lie about?

Per a few NBA betting sites, the Philadelphia 76ers hold ninth-shortest odds to win next season’s championship in 2024. Check out which sportsbooks are showing better odds for the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, and Miami Heat.

“And why do you want out? And thinks like that,” Pompey added. “You heard the reports that basically it was said that Daryl didn’t move him, and he promised to move him, but that was a report.”

At an Adidas event in China back in August, Harden was filmed in public saying, “Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of. Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.”

James Harden is expected to miss Philadelphia 76ers Media Day; is the 10-time All-Star angry at Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey for refusing a max extension?

A week later, the 14-year veteran was fined $100,000 by the NBA for his public comments made toward Morey. The initial report concluded that “Harden told league investigators he was referring to Daryl Morey telling [him] he will trade him ‘quickly’ following the $35.6 million opt in for 2023-24.” This was first reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

During an interview with a KHOU 11 television reporter in Houston, the seven-time All-NBA member was asked if his relationship with the Sixers was beyond repair.

“I think so,” Harden replied. “I’ve been patient all summer. For me, it’s just focus on what I can control and getting ready for this season.”

So, what did Daryl Morey lie to James Harden about? If the Sixers executive didn’t lie about trading him, perhaps Harden’s comments pertained to the rejection of a new deal.

Philadelphia could have offered the guard as much as a four-year, $213 million extension in free agency. However, that would have required a long-term commitment.

Regardless, it’s fair to assume that Harden’s days in a 76ers uniform are numbered. If he decides to skip Sixers Media Day, maybe the three-time scoring champ will also miss training camp.

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Jrue Holiday said he wanted to retire with Bucks a day before being traded

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September 28, 2023

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One day you’re exactly where you believe you should be, and the next day your life changes entirely. Life comes at you fast! Just yesterday, Jrue Holiday was talking to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about his desire to play the rest of his career with the Bucks.

24 hours later, the 33-year-old realizes he’s part of the blockbuster, three-team deal that is bringing Damian Lillard to Wisconsin. This means that if thing stay as they are, Holiday will be wearing a Trail Blazers jersey this upcoming season.

Let’s take a look into the details involved in this package deal that was first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski:

As Jrue is yet to comment on his surprising trade to Portland, let’s look back on what he said yesterday about retiring in Milwaukee.

“Would love to [sign an extension],” he said this Tuesday. “Before I even won here I think I said I’m a Buck for life and I mean that like deep in my heart. I don’t want to play for any other team. I think we have a chance to continue to do great things as the Bucks team and organization so I want to be in Milwaukee.”

The veteran star is just coming off an excellent campaign in Wisconsin, averaging a career-best 19.3 points per match while shooting 47.9% from the field.

“Being with the Bucks, having three of the best seasons I’ve had in my career, and not only that but having a winning record, being a top team or a top-three team, I don’t think I was ever on a top three-team until I came to the Bucks,” he concluded.

Lillard on the other hand, admitted to feel excited over his new destination, even though he mentioned plenty of times how he wanted to play for the Heat.

“The casuals won’t be addressed but the trailblazers fans and city of Portland that I love truly will be … and they will be addressed truthfully. Stay tuned Excited for my next chapter!” he wrote on social media.

Jimmy Butler showed his disappointment by making a tampering claim to investigate the Bucks after reaching deal for Lillard

It’s clear to see that Heat star Jimmy Butler was crossing his fingers to share the court with Lillard in Miami next season, as he decided to use social media to denounce the Milwaukee club for tampering just as he found out that Dame is heading to the Bucks.

“Yo NBA, man, y’all need to look into the Bucks for tampering,” Jimmy posted a video of himself on his Instagram account. “You do. I’m just going to put that out there.”

Analyst Stephen A. Smith, on the other hand, reacted by saying that you can’t be angry at Milwaukee for making the trade. “From a basketball perspective, it is an ideal fit. You can’t blame the Milwaukee Bucks for making the deal. You also want to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo happy,” he said.

However, the ESPN icon did accept that Lillard had told him how badly he wanted to play in Miami next season.

“It’s with mixed emotions obviously because I’ve known him for years and I’ve known that’s not where he wants to go,” Smith revealed. “It certainly was on his list of second or third choices, but it clearly wasn’t his first choice, he wanted to be in Miami with the Heat. He wanted to be a teammate of Jimmy Butler, he wanted to be coached under Erik Spoelstra and run by Pat Riley himself,” he said on air.





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