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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Yankees star Alex Rodriguez in baseball doping ban | Yankees star Alex Rodriguez in baseball doping ban |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Baseball's highest paid star, Alex Rodriguez, has been suspended for 211 games, along with 12 other athletes, in the wake of a doping investigation. | Baseball's highest paid star, Alex Rodriguez, has been suspended for 211 games, along with 12 other athletes, in the wake of a doping investigation. |
| Major League Baseball banned the 38-year-old New York Yankees slugger until the end of the 2014 season. | Major League Baseball banned the 38-year-old New York Yankees slugger until the end of the 2014 season. |
| Rodriguez is one of a few players linked to a closed Florida clinic, Biogenesis, which allegedly supplied banned performing-enhancing drugs. | Rodriguez is one of a few players linked to a closed Florida clinic, Biogenesis, which allegedly supplied banned performing-enhancing drugs. |
| Milwaukee Brewers' Ryan Braun was banned last month for the 2013 season. | Milwaukee Brewers' Ryan Braun was banned last month for the 2013 season. |
| The third baseman was accused of breaking drug rules and accepted a 65-game ban. | |
| Other players suspended on Monday include the Texas Rangers' Nelson Cruz, Jhonny Peralta of the Detroit Tigers, and Everth Cabrera who plays with the San Diego Padres. They each received a 50-game ban. | Other players suspended on Monday include the Texas Rangers' Nelson Cruz, Jhonny Peralta of the Detroit Tigers, and Everth Cabrera who plays with the San Diego Padres. They each received a 50-game ban. |
| 'Cover up' | 'Cover up' |
| Rodriguez, who is popularly known as A-Rod, said he would appeal the suspensions. He can continue playing while his appeal is being heard. | Rodriguez, who is popularly known as A-Rod, said he would appeal the suspensions. He can continue playing while his appeal is being heard. |
| On Monday night, he was expected to take to the field for the first time this season after hip surgery. The Yankees are to play the Chicago White Sox. | On Monday night, he was expected to take to the field for the first time this season after hip surgery. The Yankees are to play the Chicago White Sox. |
| Rodriguez' current 647 home runs places him at fifth for the all-time record. | |
| Major League Baseball, the organisation governing the sport, said Rodriguez had been suspended for "his use and possession of numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including testosterone and human growth hormone, over the course of multiple years". | Major League Baseball, the organisation governing the sport, said Rodriguez had been suspended for "his use and possession of numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including testosterone and human growth hormone, over the course of multiple years". |
| The statement also accused the player of "attempting to cover up his violations" by obstructing the investigation. | The statement also accused the player of "attempting to cover up his violations" by obstructing the investigation. |
| Rodriguez was accused of interfering with the Major League Baseball investigation into Biogenesis, resulting in a harsher penalty, correspondents say. | Rodriguez was accused of interfering with the Major League Baseball investigation into Biogenesis, resulting in a harsher penalty, correspondents say. |
| Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said on Monday: "Those players who have violated the programme have created scrutiny for the vast majority of our players, who play the game the right way. | Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said on Monday: "Those players who have violated the programme have created scrutiny for the vast majority of our players, who play the game the right way. |
| "Despite the challenges this situation has created during a great season on the field, we pursued this matter because it was not only the right thing to do, but the only thing to do," he continued. | |
| "We continue to attack this issue on every front." | "We continue to attack this issue on every front." |
| Rodriguez previously admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs while playing for a Texas team between 2001-03. He has denied using steroids since. | Rodriguez previously admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs while playing for a Texas team between 2001-03. He has denied using steroids since. |
| He was named Most Valuable Player in baseball's American League three times. | He was named Most Valuable Player in baseball's American League three times. |
| The divorced father of two's earnings this year total over $30m (£19.5m) according to Forbes. He stands to lose an estimated $36m if the suspension is upheld through the entire 2014 season. | |
| He has previously been romantically linked to a string of celebrities, including pop singer Madonna and actresses Kate Hudson and Cameron Diaz. | He has previously been romantically linked to a string of celebrities, including pop singer Madonna and actresses Kate Hudson and Cameron Diaz. |
| The accusations against him emerged from a major investigation into a Florida drug clinic that is suspected of distributing performance-enhancing drugs to several professional baseball players. | The accusations against him emerged from a major investigation into a Florida drug clinic that is suspected of distributing performance-enhancing drugs to several professional baseball players. |
| After years of inflated batting statistics - and arm muscles - during what has become known as baseball's "steroids era", the extent of doping in the sport was laid bare in a 2007 report by former Senator George Mitchell. | After years of inflated batting statistics - and arm muscles - during what has become known as baseball's "steroids era", the extent of doping in the sport was laid bare in a 2007 report by former Senator George Mitchell. |
| Mr Selig subsequently strengthened the sport's drug testing policies and created an investigative branch to prosecute drug offences. | Mr Selig subsequently strengthened the sport's drug testing policies and created an investigative branch to prosecute drug offences. |
| Many had hoped the changes would usher in a new, "clean" era for the sport. | Many had hoped the changes would usher in a new, "clean" era for the sport. |
| Baseball legends such as Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were both accused of lying about alleged steroid use. | |
| Bonds was convicted of obstruction of justice, but Clemens was cleared of perjury. | |
| The allegations left a cloud of suspicion over both stars' legacies. |