San Francisco Giants star outfielder Melky Cabrera created a fake website as part of a faux digital trail to dodge a drug suspension, according to a new report.
Cabrera admitted to testing positive for performance-enhancing testosterone earlier this week, accepting a 50-game ban that meant the end of his regular season appearances.
However, a report from the New York Daily News published Sunday alleges that one of Cabrera's "associates" paid $10,000 for a website advertising a fake product that Cabrera used as an excuse for the positive drug test results.
Baseball players can escape a positive drug test if they can prove the results were caused by a non-banned substance. According to the New York Daily News, the website and the product were part of a presentation made to Major League Baseball before league officials levied the 50-game suspension.
The ersatz website and product, however, failed to trick baseball brass.
"There was a product they said caused this positive," a source described as "familiar with the case" told the newspaper. "Baseball figured out the ruse pretty quickly."
Juan Nunez, a "paid consultant" of Cabrera's agents, has taken full responsibility for the attempted deception. Cabrera's agents, Seth and Sam Levinson, have adamantly denied knowing anything about the plan.