New doping allegations raise questions about A-Rod's future

Alex Rodriguez is the highest paid player in Major League Baseball, but a scathing new report by The Miami New Times on performance enhancing drugs says the Yankees' third baseman is also a cheater and a liar.

The paper claims that Rodriguez got human growth hormone, testosterone, and other banned substances from an "anti-aging" clinic run by Anthony Bosch in Miami called "Biogenesis," which is now closed.

The Miami New Times claims it found evidence incriminating Rodriguez in files leaked by a former Biogenesis employee. Also reportedly mentioned in those records are three players who were suspended last year for using banned substances, Melky Cabrera, Yasmani Grandal and Bartolo Colon, as well as two players never before linked to substance abuse, Nelson Cruz and Gio Gonzalez.

Major League Baseball is investigating the report, and so far, Rodriguez and Gonzalez have denied the accusations.

On Starting Point this morning, Boston Globe sports columnist Dan Shaughnessy says that athletes always deny doping allegations and "unfortunately for Alex, in the Lance Armstrong fallout, people aren't really believing it," especially considering A-Rod's history with steroid abuse.

Referencing Rodriguez's recent hip surgery and "declining skill set," Shaughnessy notes that this report could "lead to a battle from the Yankees to get out from under their contract [with A-Rod], which they would love to do anyway."

"This is a guy with 647 home runs in the big leagues," Shaunessy says. "There was a time where he was predicted to be the guy to hit 800 and do it cleanly, and that’s all behind him now."