The former National League MVP Ryan Braun has been suspended without pay for the rest of the season and the postseason, in what appears to be the first of a series of suspensions resulting from baseball's investigation of a Florida clinic accused of distributing performance-enhancing drugs.
The MLB commissioner, Bud Selig, announced the penalty Monday, citing Braun for multiple unspecified "violations" of baseball's drug programme and labour contract. Braun will miss the Brewers' final 65 games without pay, costing him about $3m of his $8.5m salary.
Braun accepted the penalty and issued a statement which said. "I am not perfect. I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions."
Braun, the injured New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez and more than a dozen players were targeted by MLB following a report by Miami New Times in January that they had been connected with Biogenesis of America, a now-closed anti-aging clinic.
"We commend Ryan Braun for taking responsibility for his past actions," said Rob Manfred, MLB's executive vice president for economics and league affairs. "We all agree that it is in the best interests of the game to resolve this matter. When Ryan returns, we look forward to him making positive contributions to Major League Baseball, both on and off the field."
MLB attempted to suspend Braun for a positive drug test following the 2011 season, but an arbitrator overturned the penalty because the Milwaukee star's urine sample was not handled as specified by baseball's drug agreement.