Federal documents recently acquired by ESPN’s Mike Fish reveal that basketball superstar LeBron James was briefly investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a part of the 2013 Biogenesis probe but has been cleared of any accusations related to the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).
The investigation reportedly unfolded through James’ connections with trainer David Alexander and friend and business associate Ernest Mims. Both individuals were named in the documents as having purchased illegal PEDs, drawing James into the investigation by association.
“[He’s] apparently an overweight guy,” DEA agent Kevin Stanfill confirmed to ESPN. “And he went to him [Acevedo] about possibly getting some testosterone treatment stuff that they were giving a bunch of overweight guys in Miami, and they dropped a lot of weight.”
Stanfill added, “There was never any indication that LeBron James did anything wrong.”
Mims had reportedly sought testosterone treatment for weight loss from Carlos Acevedo, a known PED dealer referred by Alexander. The DEA highlighted that Mims was only a client of Acevedo for a brief two-month time, primarily for weight loss. It appears that James’ involvement in the investigation was circumstantial due to his connections to Mims and Alexander.
Report: DEA investigated LeBron James for PEDs as part of 2013 federal Biogenesis probe https://t.co/2HO2sQtisB
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 13, 2023
Leading DEA officials emphasized that there was no evidence to suggest LeBron James had engaged in any wrongful activity.
Chael Sonnen openly claimed that LeBron James used PEDs
Adding fuel to the fire, former UFC star Chael Sonnen recently made headlines with significant claims regarding LeBron James and the use of PEDs. In a recent appearance on Andrew Schulz’s “Flagrant 2” podcast, Sonnen said that he and James share the same PED provider, though he did not name the person.
Given the NBA’s strict restrictions against drug use, Sonnen’s comments that James had used PEDs carry a lot of weight. The league has been critiqued in the past for carelessness in its PED program, making Sonnen’s allegations particularly important at this time.
“If the world understood what LeBron did…If you know what these performance enhancers did, then you would know why it does matter. We have the same drug guy, I know exactly what he’s doing. EPO matters, it’s the reason LeBron takes it, it matters. EPO increases your red blood cells, which gives you endurance so you can play all game long.”
Chael Sonnen claims Lebron James takes PEDs. “We have the same drug guy, I know exactly what he takes”.
( via Flagrant 2 podcast) pic.twitter.com/EDnCHatxhX
— Jo (@MavsStan41) March 8, 2023
Sonnen, however, seemed to be arguing for reducing the stigma surrounding PED use rather than accusing James of any misconduct. He explained the benefits of EPO, a drug known to increase endurance by boosting red blood cell count, suggesting that understanding the effects of these substances could potentially change public perception.
It remains to be seen how these unfolding narratives might influence the conversation surrounding PED use in professional sports and whether Sonnen’s comments will have a long-term impact on LeBron James’ illustrious career.