MLB notebook: Ryan Howard, Ryan Zimmerman cleared of PED allegations

Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard and Washington’s Ryan Zimmerman have been cleared by Major League Baseball of allegations they used banned performance-enhancing substances.

Pharmacist Charlie Sly claimed in an Al-Jazeera America documentary “The Dark Side: Secrets of Sports Doping,” which was broadcast Dec. 27, that the two used banned performance-enhancing substances.

In a brief statement Friday, MLB said its investigation “did not find any violations of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program by either Howard or Zimmerman.”

MLB said the players cooperated with its investigation and Sly did not.

Howard, a three-time All-Star, and Zimmerman, a one-time All-Star, denied the allegations and in January sued Al-Jazeera America, Al Jazeera reporter Deborah Davies and former hurdler Liam James Collins, who was said to have assisted in the documentary’s reporting. The suits, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., claimed defamation and false-light invasion of privacy.

“The accusations from Al-Jazeera came out of nowhere,” Howard said in a statement. “I welcomed the investigation by Major League Baseball as an opportunity to clear my name. I was fully cooperative and transparent in the process, and MLB’s findings validate what I have said publicly.”

Al Jazeera America at first claimed in a text report the two may have used human growth hormone, then changed the text report to the banned steroid Delta 2, conforming with the broadcast documentary.

“I understand why Major League Baseball found it necessary to explore this matter, and I appreciate that MLB, after a thorough investigation, was able to publicly affirm my innocence,” Zimmerman said in a statement.

Dodger’s Kershaw rejoins team

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw missed his teammates so much that he flew from Los Angeles to Cincinnati just to work out with them on Friday.

The injured left-hander threw on flat ground before their game against the Reds, the last step before he throws off a mound in the bullpen for the first time in more than a month.

Clearing the bases

The Dodgers have activated right-hander Bud Norris from the 15-day disabled list. Left-hander Adam Liberatore also came off the 15-day DL and pitchers Casey Fien and Ross Stripling were optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City. … The Cubs have put pitcher John Lackey on the 15-day disabled list because of strained right shoulder. They also put right-handed reliever Hector Rondon on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right tricep while right-hander Felix Pena and left-hander Rob Zastryzny had their contracts selected from Triple-A Iowa. … Free-agent pitcher Oliver Suero has been suspended 72 games and White Sox first baseman Telvin Nash for 50 games under baseball’s minor league drug program.