Washington Nationals News: Ryan Zimmerman exonerated in PED allegations

Jul 27, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman (11) rounds third base while scoring in the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 27, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman (11) rounds third base while scoring in the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Today’s District Daily has more on the Major League Baseball investigation of last year’s Al Jazeera America allegations which claimed that Ryan Zimmerman and other athletes used performance-enhancing drugs.

Good evening DoD readers, and welcome to today’s District Daily. Get caught up on the latest Nats news and opinions with some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web below.

In today’s Daily, the Washington Post’s Chelsea Janes discusses the MLB investigation into Al Jazeera’s report that several athletes, including Ryan Zimmerman, have used PEDs. As Janes writes, the investigation found that Zimmerman did not violate the league’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The Phillies’ Ryan Howard was also exonerated in the investigation.

Here’s what Zimmerman said of the allegations, via Janes’ article:

“Throughout my life and career, I have been true to myself, my family, the Nationals organization and my community,” Zimmerman said. “It is not right that a so-called news organization and its personnel can publicly make false accusations that damage my reputation and call into question my integrity without any consequences whatsoever. As I said in January when I filed my lawsuit, I am determined to hold Al Jazeera and its reporters accountable for their defamatory actions.”

Also in today’s Daily, MLB.com’s Bill Ladson discusses the Nats’ plans to put Frank Howard’s name in the ring of honor next Friday at Nationals Park.

Be sure to check out both articles below, they’re definitely worth a read. And as always, stay tuned to DoD for all your Washington Nationals needs.

MLB investigation exonerates Ryan Zimmerman of alleged PED use

(Chelsea Janes, Washington Post)

ATLANTA — A Major League Baseball investigation into allegations that Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman used performance-enhancing drugs found no violations of the league’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, the Commissioner’s Office announced Friday. The league said both Zimmerman and Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, who was also accused of PED use by pharmacist Charles Sly, cooperated fully with the investigation, though Sly did not provide any information.

Zimmerman and Howard were linked by Sly to the use of the banned hormone supplement Delta 2 in the Al Jazeera America documentary “The Dark Side” that aired last December on the now-defunct network. Howard and Zimmerman denied the allegations and filed separate lawsuits against the network and two of its reporters in January. Read full article here.

Ex-slugger Howard joining Nats’ ring of honor

(Bill Ladson, MLB.com)

ATLANTA — The Nationals are planning to put Frank Howard’s name in the ring of honor next Friday at Nationals Park before they play the Rockies. The news was announced by Washington historian Phil Wood on the Nationals’ postgame radio show.

“No. 1, you are humbly grateful and thankful,” Howard said via telephone. “It’s a thrill for me. We’ll do it in a professional big league way. It’s nice to be on the same team as Jackie and Frank Robinson.” Read full article here.