Alex Rodriguez Facing Lifetime Ban From MLB [Report]
New York Yankees third baseman could be facing a lifetime ban from MLB, but sources said he is trying to make a deal with the the league.
After Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun was suspended by the league following its investigation into the Biogenesis of America clinic last Friday, the focus shifted to 37-year-old A-Rod. Unnamed sources told ESPN that the evidence against the 14-time All-Star was “far beyond” what the league had against Braun, who was suspended without pay for “violations of the Basic Agreement and its Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.”
An Outside the Lines report last month said that Rodriguez and Braun were just two of approximately 20 players the league is seeking to suspend due to their connections with Biogenesis, an anti-aging clinic in Miami that has been accused of providing athletes with performance-enhancing drugs. The league is reportedly looking at 50- to 100-game suspensions for the players involved.
Rodriguez has admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs while he played for the Texas Rangers from 2001 to 2003, but has denied using them since then.
According to Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, the team has been “kept out of the process” regarding a possible suspension. However, the Yankees don’t expect him to be suspended immediately.
CBS Sports‘ Jon Heyman reported Monday that A-Rod “is all but assured of a Biogenesis-related MLB ban being levied against him” and that he is expected to be suspended for at least 50 games. He does, however, have the right to appeal the suspension, which Heyman said is expected to be announced within the next two to three weeks.
Alex Rodriguez has missed the entire 2013 season so far after having surgery on his hip to repair a torn labrum back in January. It was the second time in four years that he had the surgery. In the 2009 season, he opted for arthroscopic procedure that had a recovery period of six to nine weeks versus a typical three to four month recovery period. Rodriguez remains on the disabled list with a Grade 1 strain in his left quadriceps.
What do you think of a potential lifetime ban for Alex Rodriguez?
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