PED scandal reportedly linked to several unidentified NBA players

Ryan Braun was recently suspended for PED use by the MBL

The performance-enhancing drug (PED) scandal linked to the Florida Biogenesis clinic, which has already tainted the MBL and led to the suspension of Ryan Braun and possible suspension of Alex Rodriguez and others, is now being linked to several yet to be identified NBA players.

ESPN’s ‘Outside the Lines’ reported the allegations after speaking to former Biogenesis Clinic employee turned whistle-blower, Porter Fischer.

“Fischer said he and associates have identified athletes from the NBA, NCAA, professional boxing, tennis and MMA, in addition to other professional baseball players who have not yet been identified. As far as he knows, Fischer said, Bosch had no clients from the NFL or NHL.”

As noted in Dime Magazine, “the NBA tests for PEDs, but they don’t yet have a blood test in place for Human Growth Hormones (HGH), and David Stern said that negotiations with the NBPA to implement HGH testing have been put on hold until the Player’s Union gets a new executive director.”

Back in March, TUB raised the question of basketball and PEDs.

There have been plenty of other examples of minor drug use in basketball, from leagues spanning the length and breadth of the globe, but as yet there has been no high-profile scapegoat in the NBA. Odd, if you stop and think about the sheer volume of players that have graced an NBA court. Could there really be a league-wide cover up? Maybe, I don't know. What I do understand is that a sport, particularly its legacy, thrives on a clean and wholesome reputation. Once that's gone, it's hard to claw back. 

The real question is: why don't we hear more dialogue when it comes to hoops, its players and anti-doping?

Former Oakland University women’s basketball alleged to have obsessed over players' weight, virginity, treated non-Christian players in a bigoted manner

Beckie Francis /Associated Press

Despite thirteen years of service and a record of 65 games over .500, including two NCAA tournament appearances, Beckie Francis was removed from her role as the head coach of the women’s basketball team at Oakland University in June, without any official explanation as to the reason behind the early termination.

Officials at the university began an internal investigation in April, with regard to Francis’ behaviour and conduct, which ultimately led to her dismissal.

According to anonymous players, interviewed by the Detroit Free Press, Francis was obsessed with the weight and physique of her players. The extent of this fixation culminated in Francis photographing the team in their bras and Spandex, allowing her to catalogue changes in player appearance. As a result, multiple girls are alleged to have developed eating disorders.

Stacey Farrell, an ex-player, described some of her experiences working under Francis: “Mental abuse is definitely the two words that describe my three years there”.

Francis is also said to have used her position of authority to push her religious beliefs onto her players. She is accused of forcing the team to visit church services and playing Christian propaganda on bus rides.

Farrell recalled Francis’ obsession with the puritan lifestyle, recalling some of the disgraced coach's language: “don't fraternize with the men's team… by the way, are you guys virgins? You guys are virgins, right? You haven't had sex, right?”

The revelations are all the more shocking given their timing and the rapid nature of Francis’ fall from grace. Only months before her firing, Francis had revealed to the Associated Press that as a girl her father had sexually assaulted her for nearly a decade. 

Francis was fired on June 12^th, her husband and Oakland University President announced he would be retiring from his position effective from August 1^st. As of yet, no reason has been officially given for his resignation.

The school issued a statement in June, regarding the incident: “Indications of conduct and behavior of the women’s basketball head coach, that if true could be malfeasance and materially adversely affect the orderly or efficient operation of the women’s basketball program, came to the attention of an Oakland University administrator in April.”

Francis released a statement the following week: “Instead of focusing on my views with respect to recent events regarding my employment, it has always been in my nature to stay positive. I have greatly enjoyed coaching the student-athletes over the years at Oakland University. I have challenged myself personally, professionally and spiritually, and I am looking forward to the future.”

'The problem was she was the wife of the president,' said a former player who asked not to be identified.

'It was so frustrating because you couldn’t run to anyone. Tracy (Huth) couldn’t do anything; the assistant coaches couldn’t do anything because at the end of the day, their boss went home to her.’

Is this an isolated case or does more need to be done to protect our young athletes? Let me know in the comments section.