NEW YORK, N. Wesley Sneijder Netherland Jersey .Y. - Major League Baseballs No. 2 executive testified that the sport wasnt concerned if the head of a Florida clinic distributed performance-enhancing drugs to minors because MLBs sole interest was his relationship with players under investigation, a person familiar with the Alex Rodriguez grievance hearing told The Associated Press. MLB chief operating officer Rob Manfred testified this week and was asked by Rodriguezs lawyers about documents indicating Biogenesis of America founder Anthony Bosch had given PEDs to high school students, the person said Saturday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the testimony is confidential. Manfred said he assumed, based on documents in MLBs possession and media reports, that Bosch had distributed illegal substances to minors, but he never asked Bosch about it. Manfred also said MLB was interested only in possible criminal activity involving players, the person said. Bosch agreed to co-operate with MLBs investigation, and 14 players in all were suspended this summer. Rodriguez was given the harshest penalty, a 211-game suspension announced Aug. 5. The players association filed a grievance to overturn the suspension of the New York Yankees third baseman, and arbitrator Fredric Horowitz has presided over eight days of hearings in the case, which is scheduled to resume the week of Nov. 18. Federal and Florida authorities have begun investigations of the now-closed clinic. As part of a June 3 agreement between Bosch and MLB, part of which was read to the AP, MLB promised to inform federal and state law enforcement agencies of Boschs co-operation and its value in ridding baseball of PEDs. The Daily News reported Saturday that Rodriguez paid $305,000 for evidence, an allegation denied by a spokesman for the three-time AL MVP. The newspaper said Rodriguez and his representatives confirmed the payments during testimony. Citing an unidentified source familiar the proceedings, the News reported Rodriguez and his surrogates spent the money to purchase evidence that included videotapes, documents and affidavits. "Its not true and as usual not only are certain parties leaking information but they are leaking false information," Rodriguez spokesman Ron Berkowitz said in an email to the AP. Porter Fischer, the former Biogenesis associate who gave the Miami New Times documents last winter that sparked Major League Baseballs investigation, said in July he turned down MLBs $125,000 offer for evidence but he did receive $5,500 in cash. Paul Verhaegh World Cup Jersey . Sweden, first in Group B with a 4-0-0-0 record, will face Slovakia in Thursdays quarterfinals while Russia (2-0-0-2) will finish either second or third depending on the outcome of the Finland-Switzerland game later Tuesday.Daryl Janmaat Netherland Jersey . -- Gustav Nyquist scored twice as the Grand Rapids Griffins defeated the Hamilton Bulldogs 5-2 in American Hockey League action Saturday.Cody Fowlie and Ryan Harrison each had a goal and an assist as the Everett Silvertips beat the Victoria Royals 3-2 in Western Hockey League action Tuesday night. Dominik Bittner also scored for the Silvertips (12-31-9) while Ben Walker and Brandon Magee answered for the Royals (17-31-6). Elsewhere, Medicine Hat beat Calgary 5-3 and Edmonton downed Kootenay 3-1. At Victoria, the Silvertips dominated the first period, outshooting Victoria 8-0 halfway through the first. The pressure paid off for Everett when Fowlie picked up his own rebound and put it behind Victoria goalie Keith Hamilton. In his first game with the Royals since early October, defenceman Tyler Stahl was thrown out after a boarding major penalty five minutes into the second period. The Silvertips went up 2-0 with 90 seconds left in the second when Bittner faked a shot, stepped into the face-off circle and fired a wrist shot past Hamilton. Victoria made the game close justt over five minutes into the third.Georginio Wijnaldum Netherland Jersey. . Walker followed up on a great effort by Royals forward Jamie Crooks and scored low behind Silvertips goalie Kent Simpson. Harrison put the game away for Everett when he fought off a Royals check on a partial breakaway and chipped it past Hamilton. Royals forward Magee made the game close with 47 seconds left, burying a rebound off the post, but it wasnt enough. Simpson made 29 saves for the win while Hamilton finished the game with 22. The game marked the first ever contest between the two WHL teams after the Royals franchise was moved from Chilliwack this season. Tigers 5 Hitmen 3@ At Medicine Hat, Alta., Tyler Bunz made 40 saves and Emerson Etem scored his 49th goal as the Tigers (33-18-4) beat Calgary (32-19-3). --- Oil Kings 3 Ice 1@ At Edmonton, Michael St. Croix scored the power-play winner and added an assist as the Oil Kings (35-12-6) beat Kootenay (29-16-8). ' ' '
