Report: Howard unlikely to be punished in PED investigation

Ryan Howard will likely avoid punishment following an MLB investigation into an Al Jazeera report that linked the Philadelphia Phillies first baseman to performance-enhancing drugs, reports Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

While commissioner Rob Manfred declined to comment on the still-ongoing investigation, MLB's chief legal officer Dan Haren said Tuesday that the inquiry was close to completion, according to Gelb.

Howard was named in December in Al Jazeera's documentary "The Dark Side" that linked the 36-year-old, Washington Nationals infielder Ryan Zimmerman, and a host of other athletes to performance-enhancing drugs. Howard and Zimmerman strongly denied the accusations and responded by suing the network for defamation.

MLB officials held a meeting with Howard in March regarding the investigation.