Fmr. UM Pitching Coach Pleads Guilty In MLB Steroids Case
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A former University of Miami pitching coach has been sentenced to two years of probation in connection to the Biogenesis of America-MLB steroids case.
"For me it's a grand slam," said Lazaro "Laser" Collazo.
Monday morning he pleaded guilty to two testosterone possession charges, both misdemeanors.
"I want to say how embarrassed I am by the actions of those two days. It's hard for me to look at my (family)," Collazo told the court.
Collazo was originally charged with conspiring to distribute steroids the the Coral Gables clinic operated by Anthony Bosch. Collazo was accused of distributing them to high school players.
"Those charges today have been dismissed," said Collazo's attorney Frank Quintero. "I said to the press, I said to everyone that he was simply not guilty of what he had been accused of."
In addition to probation, Collazo was given 150 hours of community service and ordered to pay a $2,000 fine.
"I want to thank God for this being over. This was a very, very tough time in my life. Not only my life, but my family's life," said Collazo.
Of those charged in connection to the MLB investigation, only Yuri Sucart — cousin of New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez — still awaits trial on April 6.
Hundreds of athletes, both professional and amateur, received performance enhancing injections at the clinic—including Miami native A-Rod.
Bosch, the man accused of selling steroids to Alex Rodriguez and other Major League Baseball players for years, was sentenced to four years in federal prison, followed by three years supervised release.
