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NEW YORK -- One by one, for three weeks already, players accompanied by their lawyers have been summoned to interviews as part of baseballs latest investigation into performance-enhancing drugs -- and the process is a long way from finished. Some pretty big names, led by Alex Rodriguez, could be on the hot seat. A-Rod, Ryan Braun, Nelson Cruz, Melky Cabrera and Bartolo Colon are among the 20 or so players who may be disciplined for their links to the now-closed Miami anti-aging clinic, Biogenesis of America. The players union says it has been assured no decisions regarding discipline will be made until the interviews are completed. "It would be unfortunate if anyone prejudged those investigations," union head Michael Weiner said in a statement Wednesday. And it appears the process has a while to run. Interviews with players started three weeks ago and are scheduled until the end of June, according to people with knowledge of the process who spoke on condition of anonymity because statements on those details werent authorized. Dan Halem, Steven Gonzalez and Patrick Houlihan, lawyers in baseballs labour relations department, conducted several interviews, and some players havent been scheduled. "Every player has been or will be represented by an attorney from the players association," Weiner said. "The players association has every interest in both defending the rights of players and in defending the integrity of our joint (drug) program. We trust that the commissioners office shares these interests." MLB has been seeking the co-operation of Biogenesis founder Anthony Bosch since Miami New Times reported in January that it obtained what the paper said were records detailing drug purchases by Rodriguez, Cabrera, Cruz and Colon. Yahoo Sports reported that Braun, the 2011 NL MVP, was mentioned in the records. MLB sued Biogenesis and its operators in a Florida court in March, an attempt to pressure Bosch. A person familiar with the case told The Associated Press on Tuesday night that Bosch agreed to talk to MLB, a deal first reported by ESPN. MLB wants to speak with Bosch in the next few days, "Due to ongoing litigation, it would be inappropriate to comment on any aspect of this matter at this time," Boschs lawyer, Susy Ribero-Ayala, said in a statement. Among the players linked to the clinic, Cabrera, Colon and San Diego catcher Yasmani Grandal already have served 50-game suspensions following positive tests for testosterone announced by MLB last year. "It looks like it could be getting to the bottom of this and finding some information that hopefully would help Major League Baseball as far as cleaning this game up," said San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy, who managed Cabrera last year. "I always thought they should be a little stricter to keep these players from trying to beat the system and cheat. Im all for stiffer penalties." Once MLB interviews Bosch and the players, it will have to determine what penalties to impose. "WADA commends the decision of Major League Baseball to seek suspension of an estimated 20 players," World Anti-Doping Agency Director General David Howman said in a statement. "More and more, information and evidence gathered in the investigative process is proving an effective means of uncovering doping in sport. MLB has approached this issue in a professional way, and the evidence gathered will undoubtedly be pivotal," Howman said. Any suspensions for first offenders would be put on hold if the union files a grievance, a process that would put the matter in front of an arbitrator and delay possible sanctions for weeks or months. Second offenders would serve suspensions during the grievance process. Baseballs drug agreement calls for a 50-game suspension for a first violation, 100 for a second and a lifetime ban for a third for positive tests for banned PEDS or their use or possession. The agreement also allows discipline for "just cause" for a violation not specified. Any player disciplined could file an individual grievance, and it isnt likely that cases would be combined into one proceeding. If Bosch testifies at a hearing, he would be subject to cross-examination, and players lawyers likely would try to attack his credibility. The Florida Department of Health sent Bosch an unlicensed activity citation on April 25, accusing him of practicing medicine without a license from 2009 through 2012 and asking him to sign a "cease and desist agreement." That action was first reported by the New York Daily News on May 6. Most players have denied the Biogenesis link either directly or through spokesmen or lawyers. Rodriguez admitted in 2009 that he used performance-enhancing drugs while with the Texas Rangers from 2001-03. As baseballs highest-paid player with a $28 million salary this year, he would lose $7.65 million during a 50-game ban. Rodriguez, who turns 38 next month, has not played since hip surgery in January and is not expected to be available to the New York Yankees until after the All-Star break. The third baseman, a three-time AL MVP, has been working out since May at the teams minor league complex in Tampa, Fla., and he drove past reporters without stopping when he arrived and left three hours later Wednesday after batting practice, fielding and agility drills. A-Rod drove a black Chevrolet SUV rather than the black Maybach he usually arrives in In addition to Rodriguez, Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli was linked to the clinic. Cervelli, currently on the DL because of a broken hand, said he consulted Biogenesis for a foot injury, but didnt receive any treatment. "My focus is not on what MLB is investigating. I dont want to get caught up in that," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "My job is to manage the guys in the clubhouse." Girardi said the Yankees still planned for Rodriguez to rejoin the team after the All-Star break. Asked what he would do if A-Rod were suspended 100 games, Girardi responded: "Well cross that bridge." Brauns 50-game suspension for a positive test was overturned by an arbitrator in February 2012 after the union filed a grievance and challenged the handling of his urine sample. Braun has acknowledged he was mentioned in Biogenesis records because his lawyers used Bosch as a consultant during the grievance. After the Brewers 4-3, 10-inning win over Oakland at Miller Park on Tuesday night, the 2011 NL MVP said he was finished talking about the clinic. "Ive already addressed everything related to the Miami situation. I addressed it in spring training. I will not make any further statements about it," he said. 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Byron Scott Jersey . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others. HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The judge who has presided over Jerry Sanduskys criminal case for five years issued a sternly worded order on Friday removing himself from the former Penn State assistant coachs appeal.Judge John Cleland said he was taking himself off the case because Sanduskys lawyers have raised objections to Clelands role in a December 2011 meeting in a hotel the night before Sandusky waived a preliminary hearing.The defendants attorneys have impugned the competence and integrity of essentially everyone associated with the grand jurys investigation into the defendants conduct, the defendants trial and conviction, and these post-conviction proceedings, Cleland wrote. Now they have chosen to impugn the integrity of the court itself.Cleland said the accusations against attorneys, judges, jurors, investigators and victims were outside the bounds of the legal profession and should be reviewed by the state board that handles matters of lawyer discipline. Sanduskys appeals lawyer, Al Lindsay, declined to comment, as did a spokesman for the state attorney generals office.Sandusky, 72, was convicted in 2012 of 45 counts of child sexual abuse and is serving up to 60 years in prison. He has previously lost a round of appeals to the state Superior and Supreme courts and is currently seeking a new trial under the states Post-Conviction Relief Act, which is limited to claims of constitutional violations, newly discovered evidence or ineffective counsel. His appeal involves all three types of claims.At issue is a meeting held at the Hilton Garden Inn in State College the night of Dec. 12, 2011. In attendance were Cleland, Sandusky lawyer Joe Amendola, state prosecutors Joe McGettigan and Jonelle Eshbach, and District Judge Robert Scott, who had been appointed to preside at the preliminary hearing scheduuled for the next day.ddddddddddddIn an account he issued in May, Cleland wrote that his appointment to handle the matter as a common pleas court judge, made after all the Centre County jurists had recused themselves, included administrative oversight for the site of the preliminary hearing. He said he was having dinner in the hotel when Amendola and prosecutors asked to meet with him and Scott.It surprised him, Cleland wrote, to find out the topic was an agreement to waive the hearing as long as prosecutors would not seek higher bail if more charges were filed. Sandusky did waive the hearing, which he now argues was a mistake because his lawyers lost a chance to pin down witnesses and learn details about their version of events.Cleland said neither he nor Scott had any role in negotiating the agreement made between Amendola and the prosecutors. Amendola has recently testified that he proposed the deal to McGettigan to keep his client out of jail and that it was explained to Cleland and Scott rather than submitted to them.Cleland pointedly objected to a characterization by Sanduskys lawyers in a recent filing that it was an off-the-record night time meeting and that Sanduskys absence from the hotel conference violated his due process rights.Counsel has argued not only that the meeting between the lawyers and Judge Scott and me was unethical, but has also cast it in tones that would lead one to believe it was somehow sinister, Cleland wrote.He also said, in a footnote, that hes studied the 34 issues Sandusky has raised and concluded that no grounds raised in the petition merit relief.His order asks court officials to request another judge be appointed to replace him. ' ' '