Nationals 1B Ryan Zimmerman denies PED allegations

Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman has denied any allegations that he used performance-enhancing drugs.

Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman has denied any allegations that he used performance-enhancing drugs, reportsThe Washington Post’s James Wagner.

“I’ve never done any of that,” Zimmerman said. “I’ve never thought about doing any of that.”

In December, an investigative report from Al Jazeera America implicated several athletes in performance-enhancing drug use. Among them were Zimmerman and Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, who were alleged to have bought and used the drug Delta-2, a hormone supplement, from an Indianapolis anti-aging clinic.

Zimmerman and Howard later sued the news outlet for defamation.

“It’s really, really hard to win these suits, but I think it’s my responsibility not only to clear my name but if I do this and whether I win or lose on the defamation suit whatever it is, even if it gets to a trial, I sort of felt a responsibility because I am able to fight it that maybe if this stops this from happening to just one person after me, then it’s worth it,” Zimmerman, 31, added.

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“You do everything the right way,” Zimmerman continued. “You work. You think something like this will never happen, and then, for some reason, it does. We’re taking the right steps to ultimately clear my name, which is the most important part.”

A 2009 All-Star, Zimmerman has played for the Nationals for his entire 11-year MLB career. He is a career .283 hitter with 200 home runs and 783 RBIs.