|
 On the 10th day of the hearing, which started in September, Levine
was asked a series of questions by Rodriguez lawyer Joseph Tacopina,
according to a person with knowledge of the proceeding. The person
spoke on condition of anonymity because the proceedings are
confidential.
The person said Levine testified for 10-15 minutes and denied having
any personal gain from Rodriguez's suspension or the Yankees falling
under the luxury tax threshold; and of having an agreement to
receive a commission of any money the team saved because of the ban.
Levine also denied discussing Rodriguez's discipline with Major
League Baseball or Commissioner Bud Selig; and telling Rodriguez
surgeon Dr. Bryan Kelly or anyone else that he wanted the player off
the field, the person said.
The person also said Levine testified he may have jokingly used the
phrase "is he off the juice?" when talking with Rodriguez about
other players who weren't performing. Levine testified he had no
exact recollection.
The hearing resumed Monday before arbitrator Fredric Horowitz, who
also heard the case from Sept. 30-Oct. 3 and Oct. 15-18.
Howard Gans, a lawyer for MLB, said in papers filed in federal court
that Horowitz will hear the case daily through Nov. 26 rather than
the original plan to recess after Friday and resume Dec. 16.
MLB said U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos in Manhattan issued an
order Tuesday compelling Michael Sitrick, head of the public
relations firm Sitrick & Co., to comply with a Sept. 19 subpoena
issued by Horowitz to appear at the arbitration and to provide
documents. Sitrick & Co. worked on Rodriguez's behalf earlier this
year.
[to top of second column] |
In papers filed in New York Supreme Court on
Oct. 29, MLB alleged Sitrick & Co. had provided records from
Bosch to Yahoo Sports, which published a story Feb. 5 saying the
name of 2011 NL MVP Ryan Braun appeared in records of Biogenesis
of America, the Florida anti-aging clinic accused of
distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs.
MLB said in the court papers it believed the documents had been
"provided to Sitrick & Co. by Rodriguez or others acting on his
behalf." Miami New Times had reported Jan. 29 that Rodriguez
bought human growth hormone and other performance-enhancing
substances from Biogenesis during 2009-12.
Sitrick's lawyers, who had the matter removed to federal court,
did not respond to an email seeking comment on Ramos' order,
which MLB said was read from the bench.
Braun agreed July 22 to a season-ending 65-game suspension.
Rodriguez was suspended on Aug. 5 for alleged violations of the
sport's drug agreement and labor contract, and the players'
union filed the grievance to overturn the penalty. It remains
unclear whether Rodriguez will testify; he continued to play
while contesting the penalty.
The three-time AL MVP said four years ago he used PEDs while
with the Texas Rangers from 2001-03, but has denied using them
since. At the time of his suspension, MLB said the penalty was
for "use and possession of numerous forms of prohibited
performance-enhancing substances, including testosterone and
human growth hormone over the course of multiple years" and for
"engaging in a course of conduct intended to obstruct and
frustrate the office of the commissioner's investigation."
[Associated
Press; RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer]
Copyright 2013 The Associated
Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
