Gio Gonzalez’s name has appeared on records at the steroid-pedaling Biogenesis clinic, but thus far, there has been nothing to connect him to steroid use. Now, the lefty tells us that he passed a January drug test, according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.
Read more: Gio's comments at Federal Baseball
Speaking to Kilgore, Gonzalez says he was tested two days after the Miami New Times reported that he had purchased performance enhancing drugs through Biogenesis.
That report was later shown to be incorrect; Gonzalez actually purchased weight-loss drugs from the clinic and all of the substances he bought were permitted by Major League Baseball.
Gonzalez says that the league tested both his blood and his urine and that he was informed both tests came back negative for PEDs. He maintains that he has never used performance-enhancing drugs.
"Like I said before, I’ve never taken performance-enhancing drugs and I never will. Two days after the story broke, I was tested for blood and urine, and both came out negative, like I expected. Throughout my entire career, it’s been like that. I look forward to handling this with MLB and putting this behind me and looking forward to the season."
The connection to Biogenesis comes after a break-out season for the Nationals southpaw. Gonzalez pitched 199 innings with a 2.89 ERA last year on his way to a third place finish in the Cy Young voting. He had the highest strikeout rate in the National League, fanning 9.4 batters per nine innings.
The Biogenesis ties appeared fairly damning for Gonzalez when the story first broke, but as more information has been made available, it has supported his claim that he did not use PEDs.
Under MLB’s drug testing policy, the results of tests are to remain confidential, and without a suspension being handed down, the league will not be able to confirm that this test took place. However, while Gonzalez has not been officially absolved for his connection to the PED supplier, as Kilgore notes, he does not appear in line for a suspension based on the current evidence.