A-Rod Slammed with 211 Game Baseball Ban for Doping

Alex Rodriguez, one of baseball’s highest paid players is facing a whopping 211 game ban after being found guilty of doping offences.

After an ongoing investigation, Major League Baseball announced a ban on 13 top players, including three All-Stars.  The other 12 players were banned for 50 games after their names were linked to a Florida based clinic which is accused of providing professional baseball players with performance enhancing drugs.

According to the Daily Mail, the other players were identified as San Diego Padres pitching prospect Fautino De Los Santos, San Diego Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera, Detroit Tigers shortstop Jonny Peralta, Philadelphia Phillies reliever Antonio Bastardo, Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, New York Mets outfielder Jordany Valdespin, Seattle Mariners catcher Jesus Montero, Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli, New York Mets outfield prospect Cesar Puello,  Houston Astros pitching prospect Sergio Escalona and New York Yankees outfield prospect Fernando Martinez.

Rodriguez received the longest running ban ever meted out by Major League Baseball because he was also found guilty of other offences.

“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,” said the commissioner of MLB, Bud Selig. “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.”

A-Rod has vowed to appeal the tough sentencing and ask an arbitrator to allow him to continue playing until the appeal has been heard and the case resolved.

The 38 year old has admitted to doping in the past but vowed that he had stopped taking steroids over a decade ago.

“I am disappointed with the penalty and intend to appeal and fight this through the process,” he promised.