December 16, 2019 Doping / Fraud / Olympics / Soccer

Russia Banned From 2020 and 2022 Olympics, 2022 World Cup for Doping Violations

Russia has been banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) from participating in or hosting various sporting events, including the 2020 Olympics and 2022 World Cup.

As we reported earlier, the Russian track-and-field team was banned from the 2016 Summer Olympics by the International Association of Athletics Federations. This ban was a result of a systematic doping cover-up and the lack of compliance from the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA). The Russian Olympic team was later banned from the 2018 Winter Olympics due to extensive doping …

November 20, 2019 Doping / Litigation / NFL

Former Football Players Fight Back, Tell Ninth Circuit That NFL Was Directly Involved in Painkiller Lawsuit

In a lawsuit where former NFL players accused the league of doping them with amphetamines and painkillers, the players have responded to the NFL’s effort to end their appeal in the Ninth Circuit.

As we reported earlier, former Chicago Bears players Richard Dent and Jim McMahon sued the NFL in 2014, claiming that the league facilitated the use of opioids, anesthetics, and drugs like Toradol without prescriptions, violating the Controlled Substances Act . While their lawsuit was initially dismissed by a district court for being …

February 6, 2019 Doping / Litigation / NFL

Lane Johnson Fights to Keep Suit Against NFL and NFLPA Alive

On January 16, 2019, Lane Johnson, a right tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles, fought a motion for summary judgment in his case against the NFL and the NFLPA. Johnson argues that an arbitrator who handled an appeal in his 10-game Performance Enhancing Drug policy suspension, failed to disclose a conflict of interest. Back in 2016, Johnson filed his lawsuit after an arbitration proceeding which upheld his 10-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drugs policy.

Johnson alleges that James Carter, an arbitrator and senior counsel …

May 1, 2018 Baseball / Litigation / MLB

MLB Players Move to Compel Discovery Yet Again in Al Jazeera Libel Suit

On April 20, 2018, MLB players Ryan Zimmerman and Ryan Howard, plaintiffs in the Al Jazeera libel case, filed another motion to compel discovery in the ongoing battle. As we have previously reported, this is not the players’ first attempt at extracting additional information from defendant Al Jazeera amid discovery. The defamation suit stems from their production and airing of a 2015 documentary, called “The Dark Side,” which accused the MLB players of using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) while playing for the MLB.

The entire …

April 23, 2018 Litigation

Lance Armstrong Settles Fraud Case for $5 Million

As we have previously reported, Lance Armstrong has been battling a dispute with former teammate, Floyd Landis, and the United States Postal Service (USPS) over his illicit use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), which has apparently cost the government millions in undue sponsorship costs. On April 29, 2018, Armstrong agreed to settle the issue for $5 million, although the USPS initially sought close to $100 million. Of that $5 million, Landis is expected to receive $1.65 million.

The stir initially began in 2006, when Armstrong …

November 10, 2017 Libel / MLB

Al Jazeera America Argues MLB Players Must Subpoena Reporter in Libel Suit

On November 6, 2017, Al Jazeera America LLC moved that it does not need to provide documents in response to the MLB players’ motion to compel the company to give information an undercover reporter gathered in 2015. The move is the latest in the libel case filed by MLB players Ryan Zimmerman and Ryan Howard in January 2016 that alleged Al Jazeera America recklessly published the 2015 documentary “The Dark Side” and an accompanying article, and damaged their reputations.

The documentary revealed the use of …

August 7, 2016 NFL

Manning Protects Legacy, NFL Clears Champion of Alleged PED Violations

On Monday, July 25, 2016, the NFL cleared Payton Manning, former quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos, of alleged human growth hormone (HGH) or other performance-enhancing drug (PED) use. Manning retired from the NFL following winning Super Bowl 50 with the Broncos.

Al Jazeera America aired a report in late December 2015 alleging that several professional athletes had received HGH or other PEDs from an anti-aging clinic, a violation of professional sports leagues. The report was based on hidden camera footage taken …

March 24, 2015 Defamation / Doping / MLB

Clemens’ Defamation Lawsuit Reaches Settlement

On Wednesday March 18, the defamation-based legal dispute between Roger Clemens and his former trainer, Brian McNamee, arising from allegations that the long-time MLB pitcher used performance enhancing drugs, has finally settled.

The dispute began over 7 years ago with the publication of the now infamous Mitchell Report. In the report, pitching trainer, Brian McNamee, accused both Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens of taking performance enhancing drugs banned by the MLB. Though Pettitte quickly admitted to his use, Clemens denied, and continues to deny, …

January 28, 2015 Doping / MLB

Yankees Seeking to Avoid Paying Potential $24 Million Bonus to A-Rod

The New York Yankees have made it clear they are still unhappy with Alex Rodriguez despite his return. A-Rod is preparing to return after a year-long suspension for admitted use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. At the same time, the Yankees are avoiding contact with the player, hoping to give him as little time playing as possible, and seeking to void his milestones bonus contract.

Recently, the Yankees have given A-Rod the cold shoulder a few times. They have made it clear that he …

August 8, 2013 Doping / MLB

A-Rod PED Scandal Goes On … And On

On Monday, Major League Baseball suspended Alex Rodriguez and 12 other players in connection with their use of performance enhancing drugs obtained from the, ahem, wellness clinic Biogenesis run by Anthony Bosch. Ryan “I would bet my life that this substance never entered my body” Braun was already suspended a few weeks ago. The Miami New Times first broke the Biogenesis story in January 2013. MLB began an investigation immediately, but the paper wouldn’t turn over its supporting documents to MLB. Bosch, of course, denied …