Miami Says Probe Into PEDs Found No Wrongdoing
CORAL GABLES (AP) — The University of Miami said Monday that an investigation into former strength coach Jimmy Goins found no evidence that he provided performance-enhancing drugs to athletes.
Goins was one of the people linked to the Biogenesis scandal, a story broken by Miami New Times in January 2013. Goins was alleged to have purchased PEDs from the now-closed clinic. That was a particularly sensitive subject at Miami given that one of the university's trustees in Alex Rodriguez — the New York Yankees' slugger — and a former star Hurricane in Ryan Braun were also linked to the clinic.
Goins was working with track and baseball athletes at the university when the story broke. He was suspended and later fired. Goins insisted he did nothing "improper either personally or as a representative of the University of Miami."
In a statement Monday released to The Associated Press the university said it found no wrongdoing.
"More than fifteen months ago, former University of Miami strength coach Jimmy Goins was alleged to have purchased and used performance enhancing drugs from Biogenesis, and speculation followed about the potential involvement of student-athletes or staff in our baseball program," officials say in the statement. "At that time, the University initiated a comprehensive review of the employee and the baseball program, announced publicly on January 29, 2013.
"After more than 50 interviews ... as well as third-party drug testing of all then-current UM baseball student-athletes, the review concluded that the allegations of involvement beyond Mr. Goins were unsubstantiated."
The university announced last year that all of its baseball players were tested for PEDs. Each of those tests came back negative.
The Biogenesis scandal led to 14 suspensions last summer. Rodriguez, a three-time MVP, was suspended for the entire 2014 season. He filed two lawsuits against MLB over its investigation but later withdrew them. He has denied using performance-enhancing drugs. Braun, another former MVP, missed the final 65 games of last season with the Milwaukee Brewers because of his links to the clinic.
"UM will continue to ensure that our strict policies, methods, discipline and reliability of drug tests continues to evolve with the world of sports," the university said. "Miami is committed to fair play and the integrity of all of our athletic endeavors."
Goins had been at Miami since 2004.
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