Report: A-Rod linked to purchase of Biogenesis records

NEW YORK, April 12 (UPI) -- Major League Baseball has evidence showing a representative of Alex Rodriguez bought medical records linking him to banned substances, The New York Times said.

MLB investigators believe the evidence shows a representative of the New York Yankees third baseman purchased records from Biogenesis of America, a Miami clinic reported to have provided athletes with performance-enhancing substances, the newspaper reported Friday.

Citing two sources it identified only as having been briefed on the matter, the newspaper said people acting on behalf of Rodriguez purchased documents from Biogenesis linking Rodriguez to performance-enhancing drugs so the records could be destroyed.

The Times reported Thursday MLB had purchased the documents from a former Biogenesis employee in an attempt to establish a link between the clinic and the distribution of banned substances.

Rodriguez, 37 -- who is recovering from off-season hip surgery -- is one of several players linked to the clinic in a report by the Miami New Times, which said it had obtained medical records of players who had purchased human growth hormone from the clinic.

Rodriguez has denied any ties to the clinic, the Times said.

The Miami New Times reported in January the names of Rodriguez and several other prominent players were found in a notebook of Anthony Bosch, a co-founder of Biogenesis. Bosch has been linked to slugger Manny Ramirez, who was suspended by Major League Baseball for violating the league's drug policy in 2009.