MLB Suspends Rodriguez 211 Games, 12 Others For 50 Games In Biogenesis Scandal
BOSTON (CBS) - Major League Baseball suspended New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez for 211 games on Monday, one of the 13 suspensions the league gave out stemming from the latest PED scandal that has rocked the sport.
Here is the release from MLB:
Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig announced today that third baseman Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees has been suspended without pay for the remainder of the 2013 Championship Season and Postseason and the entire 2014 Championship Season for violations of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program and the Basic Agreement.
Rodriguez's discipline under the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program is based on his use and possession of numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including Testosterone and human Growth Hormone, over the course of multiple years. Rodriguez's discipline under the Basic Agreement is for attempting to cover-up his violations of the Program by engaging in a course of conduct intended to obstruct and frustrate the Office of the Commissioner's investigation. The suspension, which will become effective on Thursday, August 8th, will cover 211 Championship Season games and any 2013 Postseason games in which Rodriguez otherwise would have been eligible to play.
Rodriguez will appeal his ban though, meaning he can still play during that process. He is expected to make his 2013 debut Monday night when the Yankees begin a three-game series against the White Sox in Chicago.
The other big names receiving suspensions on Monday were Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, Detroit Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta, San Diego Padres shorstop Everth Cabrera, Philadelphia Phillies reliever Antonio Bastardo and Mets outfiedler Jordany Valdespin who all received 50-game bans.
Injured Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli and Mariners catcher Jesus Montero (a former Yankees prospect) also received 50-game suspensions. Minor leaguers Cesar Puello (Mets), Fernando Martinez (Yankees), and Sergio Escalona (Astros) were also suspended for 50 games, as well as free agent pitchers Fautino De Los Santos and Jordan Norberto.
Rodriguez, 38, has been at the center of MLB's investigation into Biogenesis, a clinic in Florida where Tony Bosch reportedly administered banned performance-enhancing drugs to MLB players.
Former National League MVP Ryan Braun was suspended for the final 65 games of the 2013 season for his admitted involvement with the clinic.
In 2009, Rodriguez admitted to using steroids during his time in Texas from 2001-03, but he said in an interview with ESPN that his Yankee years were "clean."
"I've played the best baseball of my career since," Rodriguez told ESPN in 2009. "I've won two MVPs since and I've never felt better in my career. Of that I'm very proud of. … I was stupid for three years. I was very, very stupid. … The more honest we can all be, the quicker we can get baseball [back] to where it needs to be. When you take this gorilla and this monkey off your back, you realize that honesty is the only way. I'm finally beginning to grow up. I'm pretty tired of being stupid and selfish, you know, about myself. The truth needed to come out a long time ago. I'm glad it's coming out today."
Rodriguez is in the sixth year of his 10-year, $275 million contract with the New York Yankees. He has not played a game this year due to a hip injury and then a quad injury during his rehab outings. He's made more than $300 million in his career, and he currently ranks fifth in baseball history with 647 home runs and seventh with 1,950 RBIs. He's been named to 14 All-Star Games, he's won three MVP Awards and he won the World Series with the Yankees in 2009.
