In 2013, the American sports world was shaken by the Biogenesis affaira Florida anti-aging clinic accused of providing athletes with banned performance-enhancing drugs.
Even if the scandal concerned a few boxers or tennis players, it was especially baseball that shook since several big MLB stars (Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Braun, Nelson Cruz, Everth Cabrera, Jhonny Peralta, etc.) had been suspended for having bought and used growth hormones and testosterone.
However, according to a long investigation by ESPNwho was able to get his hands on the full report from the DEA (the American federal agency responsible for combating drug trafficking and distribution in the United States), the Biogenesis listings included many more names than those who been revealed.
Contacts with LeBron James’ inner circle
We thus find the wrestler Paul “The Big Show” Wight, the boxer Shannon Briggs and two names that stand out because they are part of LeBron James’ very first circle: his former personal coach David Alexander and his lifelong friend and financial advisor, Ernest “Randy” Mims.
On the side of the DEA investigators, however, we assure that they have hidden nothing, and have particularly investigated the possible connections between the Biogenesis clinic and LeBron James.
But whether for Randy Mims or David Alexander, the agency failed to make a connection with the basketball player.
According to information collected by DEA investigators, the first would have purchased testosterone for personal use. This would have ended short anyway since Randy Mims was only a client for two months, complaining about the side effects of the treatment and therefore preferring to stop the experiment.
“He appears to be an overweight man.” explains an investigator. “And he went to see him [Carlos Acevedo, un associé de Tony Bosch, le patron de Biogenesis, qui a ensuite monté sa propre affaire] to have a testosterone treatment that they were giving to a group of overweight people, who had lost a lot of pounds. »
A simple matter of diet?
As for David Alexandera well-known sports coach who has worked for a long time with LeBron James and who now works with Victor Oladipo, Donovan Mitchell or Tim Hardaway Jr, nothing concrete has been found by the DEA either, which does not consider him in his investigation as the coach of LeBron James’ wife.
“I can tell you that we looked at everything because we knew this day would come” explains a DEA agent, aware that the names were bound to come out eventually, and that the agency could therefore not afford to cover certain athletes. ” She (Savannah James) wasn’t taking any supplements, anything like that…There was never any indication that LeBron James did anything wrong.”
Contacted by ESPN, a representative for LeBron James replied that the basketball player had no connection with Biogenesis, Tony Bosch or Carlos Acevedo, and that it was a personal initiative of Randy Mims.
“In 2013, Randy Mims worked briefly with David Alexander, as part of a training and nutrition program, and he received a supplement on Alexander’s recommendation. Mr. Mims only worked with Mr. Alexander and used the supplement a total of three times. Furthermore, Mr. Mims was never contacted by the authorities and had no knowledge of the information contained in this report, which took place more than ten years ago. replied Adam Mendelsohn, LeBron James’ press secretary.
