Blue Jays' Melky Cabrera co-operates with steroid probe

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Melky Cabrera said in a statement released Friday that he is co-operating with Major League Baseball and federal authorities on an investigation into a now-closed Florida anti-aging centre linked to banned drugs.

The former San Francisco Giants star served a 50-game suspension last season for a positive testosterone test.

The Miami New Times recently released documents that purportedly linked Cabrera and several other players to purchases of banned drugs from the Florida clinic.

In a statement Friday, Cabrera said he has served his punishment and worked hard to get ready for the 2013 season.

And while he will co-operate with authorities "the best I can," he says his legal counsel has told him not to answer questions relating to the pending investigations.

Cabrera, who was at camp Friday, said he will speak no more about his 2012 season.

Melky Cabrera Statement:

"Last season ended for me when I admitted taking a banned substance and accepted and served my punishment of a 50-game suspension. Since that day, my goals have been to serve my punishment and to put that mistake behind me and to work hard to be the best baseball player I can be. At the end of last season, when it became clear that I would win the batting title despite my positive test, I asked the Players Association and MLB to make sure a more deserving player won, and I am very happy that my former teammate Buster Posey won that award instead of me.

I also accepted the Giants' decision not to bring me back for the playoffs after I served my punishment. Instead, I continued to work hard so I could be ready for the 2013 season. I hoped and expected that I would be allowed to put my mistake behind me and to start this season fresh.

I am aware that in the past weeks, there have been news articles written about so-called patient files from a Miami clinic and the MLB and others are investigating those allegations. I have told MLB I will cooperate in their investigation the best I can, just as my legal counsel has told federal investigators. I have been instructed by legal counsel not to answer questions relating to the pending investigations. This statement will be the last comment I will make on the events of the 2012 season.  I have put my mistakes behind me, have learned my lesson and have served my punishment. I am here to play the best baseball I can to help the Toronto Blue Jays win a world championship."