MLB Biogenesis PED Scandal: Gio Gonzalez did NOT receive PEDs

Despite earlier reports that Gio Gonzalez may have received PEDs from the Miami-based Biogenesis clinic, it now appears that he did not, reports Mike Fish and T.J. Quinn of ESPN.

Gonzalez denied using PEDs after the initial news broke, so this story breaking appears to back that claim up.

The article mentions that Gonzalez is the first client named so far to not receive performance-enhancing drugs from either the clinic or founder Anthony Bosch himself.

It says that Gonzalez received roughly $1,000 worth of legal drugs, which all are allowed under MLB's current rules. One of them is a "dubious but legal" weight-loss drug.

This news certainly comes as relief to Nationals fans, who may have been facing the prospect of losing one of the team's best pitchers.

ACES had two new players incriminated in the report, which does nothing but fuel the fire of their possible link to the clinic.

Gonzalez, 27, pitched for the Athletics every season until 2012, when he was traded to the Nationals for a package of prospects. He won 21 games for the team and helped lead the Nationals to their first NL East crown since moving to Washington.

Gonzalez was not the biggest name to be linked to the clinic, with Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez and Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun both being mentioned.

The Nationals have Gonzalez under team control through 2018, so they are surely expecting many more years of high performance from the left-handed starter. It is nothing but good news for the team to learn that he did not receive any illegal drugs.