Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees addresses a media conference in Chicago on Monday. Rodriguez, baseball's highest-paid player and one of the game's greatest hitters, has been suspended for a record 211 games following MLB's investigation into one of the biggest doping scandals in American sports history. John Gress / Reuters

A fan holds up a sign expressing his opinion about disgraced Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez during the second inning of New York's game against the White Sox in Chicago on Monday. Rodriguez singled in his first at-bat of the season, but the White Sox went on to win 8-1. John Gress / Reuters

But Yankees slugger vows to appeal 211-game banishment

Alex Rodriguez, baseball's highest-paid player and one of the sport's greatest hitters, was suspended for a record 211 games on Monday for his involvement in one of American sport's biggest doping scandals.

Another 12 players, including three Major League Baseball All-Stars, were handed 50-game suspensions following a long investigation into links between star players and a Florida clinic accused of supplying them with performance-enhancing drugs.

"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," MLB commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement.

Rodriguez's ban is the longest doping penalty ever handed out by MLB and he stands to lose about $36 million in pay if the suspension, ruling him out of the rest of this season and the entire 2014 season, is upheld.

Rodriguez, vowing to continue playing for the Yankees while he appeals his doping suspension, said he felt like he was "fighting for his life".

Describing the past seven months as a "nightmare," Rodriguez told a packed media conference in Chicago on Monday he was prepared to go the distance to clear his name.

"I'm fighting for my life," he said. "I have to defend myself. If I don't, nobody else will."

Rodriguez was among 13 players suspended by MLB for their alleged links with a Florida clinic accused of supplying players with performance-enhancing drugs.

The other 12 players all accepted 50-game bans, which is about eight weeks in MLB, but Rodriguez appealed after he was given a much stiffer penalty.

The 38-year-old third baseman has not played this season because of injury but is allowed to play through his appeal, which has yet to be scheduled.

On the same day the penalty was announced, Rodriguez was preparing to rejoin the Yankees against the Chicago White Sox.

Before the game, he addressed reporters, declining to talk about the specific allegations again him, talking instead about his joy at playing after being sidelined following hip surgery.

"I am thrilled and humbled to have the opportunity to put on this uniform again and to play Major League Baseball again," he said.

"I feel like I was 18 years old, back in Fenway Park back in 1994, when I went in to face the Red Sox for the very first time.

"It's been 20 years, and I'm just very excited to go out there and play baseball."

Rodriguez was twice asked whether he had used performance-enhancing drugs but did not say, replying instead that the case was ongoing.

"We'll have a forum to discuss all of that, and we'll talk about it then," he said.

"It's been the toughest fight of my life, and not by any means am I out of the woods," he said.

"This is probably just 'phase two' probably starting. It's not going to get any easier. It's probably going to get hard, but I am humbled and I am thankful for the support."

The suspension is due to start on Thursday.

"I am disappointed with the penalty and intend to appeal and fight this through the process," said Rodriguez, who started for the Yankees against the Chicago White Sox on Monday and hit a bloop single in his first at-bat.

The White Sox went on to post an 8-1 victory.

Rodriguez had also been critical of the Yankees, but the team issued a statement on Monday denying allegations it was involved in the investigation.

"We are compelled to address certain reckless and false allegations concerning the Yankees' role in this matter," the team said. "The New York Yankees in no way instituted and/or assisted MLB in the direction of this investigation; or used the investigation as an attempt to avoid its responsibilities under a player contract; or did its medical staff fail to provide the appropriate standard of care to Alex Rodriguez."

The other 12 suspended players can rejoin their teams before this year's postseason playoffs.

The dozen included three current All-Stars, Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, San Diego Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera and Detroit Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

The others who were identified were: Philadelphia Phillies reliever Antonio Bastardo, New York Mets outfielder Jordany Valdespin, Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli, Seattle Mariners catcher Jesus Montero, New York Mets outfield prospect Cesar Puello, San Diego Padres pitching prospect Fautino De Los Santos, Houston Astros pitching prospect Sergio Escalona and New York Yankees outfield prospect Fernando Martinez.

They were all treated as first-time offenders. Three more players - Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Melky Cabrera, Oakland Athletics pitcher Bartolo Colon and Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal - were also found to have connections with the Biogenesis clinic.

But they did not receive any additional sanctions because they had already served 50-game suspensions for failing doping tests.

The players' union said it was satisfied with the 50-game penalties but opposed the sanction handed down to Rodriguez.

"We agree with his decision to fight his suspension," the union's executive director,Michael Weiner, said.

"We believe that the commissioner has not acted appropriately under the basic agreement. Mr Rodriguez knows that the union, consistent with its history, will defend his rights vigorously."

Selig said Rodriguez was given a much stiffer penalty because he had committed other offenses.

"Rodriguez's discipline under the basic agreement (labor contract) is for attempting to cover-up his violations of the program by engaging in a course of conduct intended to obstruct and frustrate the commissioner's investigation," Selig said.

Although Rodriguez has never been punished for doping, he has previously admitted to using steroids, but said he stopped using them about a decade ago.

The 38-year-old is fifth on the all-time home runs list with 647 home runs but the ban threatens to ruin his prospects of overtaking Barry Bonds (762) as the all-time leader.

Any suspension would also cost him financially, with Selig saying he would not be paid while he was serving his ban. Rodriguez earns about $25 million a season with the Yankees and is under contract to the end of 2017.

He has about $100 million left to be paid and stands to lose about a third of that if he is suspended until the end of next season.

Before Monday, only one player had been suspended over the Biogenesis investigation, which was launched following allegations made by a Miami newspaper.

Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun, the National League's Most Valuable Player just two years ago, accepted a 65-game ban, ruling him out for the rest of this season.

(China Daily 08/07/2013 page23)