A long-awaited report on the use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs in major league baseball was released Thursday and implicated one current and four former Nationals players.
The Mitchell Report, a 20-month investigative effort headed by former Senate Majority leader George J. Mitchell, mentions Nats catcher Paul Lo Duca along with former outfielders Nook Logan and Jose Guillen, catcher Gary Bennett and pitcher Mike Stanton.
The team issued a statement saying it has not yet had an opportunity to fully review the report and had no further comment at this time.
The Nats just signed Lo Duca, 35, to a one-year contract on Monday worth $5 million. The Mitchell Report states that Lo Duca bought kits of human growth hormone (HGH) from former New York Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski, 37, who in April pled guilty to distributing anabolic steroids and human growth hormone to dozens of professional baseball players.
The report also says Radomski produced three checks and handwritten notes from Lo Duca, a four-time All-Star. Internal notes from a 2003 meeting among Los Angeles Dodgers’ front office personnel also refer to Lo Duca’s steroid use, according to the report. Lo Duca began his career with the Dodgers and has also played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Florida Marlins and the Mets.
The Nats traded for Logan, 28, in August of 2006. He appeared in 145 games over the last two seasons, but earlier this week was non-tendered by the club and is now a free agent. In the Mitchell Report, Radomski claims he sold one kit of HGH to Logan, who paid by money order and confirmed the receipt by phone.
Guillen, 31, played for the Nats in 2005 and 2006 and spent 2007 with the Seattle Mariners. He was suspended 15 games on Dec. 6 by baseball commissioner Bud Selig for violating the league’s drug policy, although the player’s association has filed a grievance on Guillen’s behalf. Earlier this month, he signed a three-year, $36 million contract with the Kansas City Royals. The Mitchell Report cites recent media reports implicating Guillen in the purchase of HGH during his time with the Nats and in prior years with the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Gary Bennett, 35, was the Nats back-up catcher in 2005 and has played with seven teams during a 12-year career. The Mitchell Report said Radomski produced a $3,200 check from Bennett written on July 13, 2003 for two kits of HGH.
Mike Stanton, 40, played parts of the 2005 and 2006 seasons with the Nats. The 19-year veteran relief pitcher spent last season with the Cincinnati Reds. In the Mitchell Report that Stanton, then with the Mets, paid him to purchase HGH on two separate occasions in 2003 by using cash and a money order. All current or former Nats players contacted by investigators declined to speak with Mitchell.
