MLB Clears Dodgers Doctor ElAttrache in McGregor PED
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- MLB cleared Dr. Neal ElAttrache after investigators said they had "no concerns" regarding his treatment of MLB players or his adherence to the league's Joint Drug Program, and considers the matter closed
- ElAttrache oversaw UFC star Conor McGregor's care after McGregor suffered broken bones in his legs, and referred him to a specialist who prescribed PEDs
- MLB's investigation included an interview with ElAttrache, a review of relevant records, and a check of Therapeutic Use Exemption requests, none of which matched the nature of the McGregor referral
- ElAttrache treats athletes across multiple sports, frequently performs Tommy John surgeries, and also serves as team doctor for the NFL's Los Angeles Rams
- MLB's Joint Drug Agreement, in place since 2006, carries an 80-game suspension for first-time offenders, 162 games for second-time offenders, and a lifetime ban for a third violation
- PED history in baseball includes Alex Rodriguez's record 211-game suspension in August 2013 for his role in the Biogenesis scandal, later reduced to 162 games on appeal
Why it matters: ElAttrache, one of the country's most prominent sports physicians, retains his role treating Dodgers players and other MLB stars without any disciplinary action. The clean resolution hinged on the fact that the PEDs originated from a specialist ElAttrache referred McGregor to — not from a TUE request — so MLB's drug-testing pipeline was never formally bypassed for baseball players.
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