LeBron James is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Not only has LeBron been able to accomplish seemingly impossible things (such as breaking the scoring record with the Los Angeles Lakers), but he has also done so while being a great role model with an extremely clean public image.
The reason for LeBron’s longevity in the league is what he puts into his body, as he spends around $1.5 million a year on maintaining his health. LeBron has done everything the right way, which is why he has a squeaky-clean public image.
That being said, those around LeBron have not been as clean. ESPN recently obtained more than 1,400 pages of unredacted federal investigative documents that included previously unsurfaced names that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration found during “Operation Strikeout” a decade ago. This was the investigation that led to Tony Bosch being arrested for four years with prominent baseball players, such as Alex Rodriguez, getting suspended.
Two previously unsurfaced names that are now public include David Alexander and Ernest “Randy” Mims. Alexander is an athletic trainer who has trained LeBron in the past while Mims is a long-time friend and business partner of LeBron.
LeBron James was not named in the initial report but because of his connection to both Alexander and Mims, the DEA decided to look at whether or not LeBron had any involvement. LeBron came out clean.
"“While reporting this story, ESPN was told by federal authorities that they found nothing to suggest that Alexander — who has trained James — or Mims provided any PEDs to any athletes. But because both had a relationship with James, their involvement in the investigation caused investigators to look at whether James might have been involved in any activity related to PEDs — and they concluded that he was not: ‘There was never any indication that LeBron James did anything wrong,’ the lead DEA investigator said.”"
Lakers news: LeBron James involved in PED investigation, comes out clean
The investigation certainly made sure to check into any possible connections. According to the ESPN report, a DEA investigator said that they looked into LeBron’s connections with Alexander specifically as he was a trainer for his wife, Savannah, and even owned a cold-pressed juice and smoothie business with her.
The same investigator stated, “There was never any indication that LeBron James did anything wrong.”
There has never been any reason to question LeBron James and this just vindicates that point. If there was ever a time when something was going to come out, it was during this investigation that busted several other athletes.