Cabrera associate attempted to fabricate steroid defense Cabrera associate attempted to fabricate steroid defense ADVERTISING NEW YORK — An associate of San Francisco Giants All-Star Melky Cabrera purchased a website and attempted to create evidence to support a claim that
Cabrera associate attempted to fabricate steroid defense
NEW YORK — An associate of San Francisco Giants All-Star Melky Cabrera purchased a website and attempted to create evidence to support a claim that the outfielder inadvertently took the substance that caused a positive drug test, Major League Baseball said.
Baseball officials uncovered the scheme as Cabrera prepared his case to challenge the test. Cabrera’s grievance then was dropped, and MLB announced a 50-game suspension Wednesday.
The New York Daily News first reported on the scheme Sunday.
A team of six-to-seven investigators from MLB spent several weeks working to uncover the plan, a baseball official familiar with the probe told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because MLB didn’t authorize anyone to discuss the matter publicly.
It’s the first such case MLB has had, and officials hope that uncovering the scheme will discourage similar attempts.
The person said baseball had referred the case to federal investigators.
A second baseball official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said additional discipline against Cabrera was unlikely.
Cabrera, MVP of the All-Star game last month, tested positive for testosterone, MLB said.
The person said Juan Nunez, who works with Cabrera’s agents, purchased an existing website and attempted to alter it in a manner that would allow Cabrera to claim the positive test was caused by a substance obtained through the website. The News reported Nunez paid $10,000 for the website.
“If you create a new website, you would know when the website was created,” the baseball official said. “At least they were smart enough to buy an existing website.”
Federer beats Djokovic for 5th Cincinnati title
MASON, Ohio — Make it five for Federer. Emphatically.
Top-ranked Roger Federer won a record fifth Cincinnati title Sunday, dominating second-ranked Novak Djokovic at the outset of a 6-0, 7-6 (7) win for the Western & Southern Open championship.
It was the first time in the tournament’s history that the top two played for the title. From the start, it was no match.
Li rallies to beat Kerber for Cincinnati title
MASON, Ohio — China’s Li Na overcame an awful first set to get her first title of the season.
Li finally got her shots to stay in the court during the second set and got the better of several long rallies, beating Germany’s Angelique Kerber 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 on Sunday for the championship of the Western & Southern Open.
Then, she hoisted that elusive trophy.
The final matched players who knocked the Williams sisters out of an already depleted tournament. Defending champion Maria Sharapova dropped out before the start because of a stomach illness.
NJ speedway driver dies of heart attack
PLUMSTED, N.J. — A 41-year-old rookie driver died of an apparent heart attack at New Egypt Speedway.
First-year driver Scott Doty was revived by emergency medical technicians Saturday night but later died.
Ryan Miscoski, a son of track co-owner Bill Miscoski, said Doty apparently was stricken while he was racing in the infield. Miscoski said Doty then panicked and drove into the pit stop area.
Bill Miscoski said Doty struck a tow truck and a concrete wall but did not hit anyone else at the track in Ocean County.
Durant goes from gold medal to red carpet
OKLAHOMA CITY — Kevin Durant is going from representing the red, white and blue to walking the red carpet.
Adding to a resume that already includes being a three-time NBA scoring champion and Olympic gold medalist, Durant was the star as his movie “Thunderstruck” premiered in Oklahoma City’s Bricktown entertainment district Sunday night. It opens in other theaters Friday.
Durant was getting his first chance to see the completed project, which was shot in Louisiana during the NBA lockout last year and then during the season in Oklahoma City in January.
It also features Nickelodeon star Taylor Gray, Brandon T. Jackson from “Big Momma’s House” and Jim Belushi. Gray plays a Thunder fan whose lack of basketball ability is magically switched with Durant’s All-Star skill set.
DeFrancesco named Astros interim manager
HOUSTON — Tony DeFrancesco helped Houston’s Triple-A affiliate find success.
The Astros hope he can do the same for their young, struggling major league club.
DeFrancesco was chosen interim manager Sunday, a day after Brad Mills was fired.
DeFrancesco managed Oklahoma City to a 67-60 record and has the RedHawks contending for a playoff spot this season.
Houston has the worst record in the major leagues at 39-83.
He takes over an Astros club that is the youngest in the National League at 26.5 years — and even younger than the Oklahoma City team, 27.3 years.
In his third season running the Astros, Mills was dismissed Saturday night after Houston lost to the Diamondbacks 12-4.
By wire sources
