Alex Rodriguez has been suspended through the end of the 2014 season after a Major League Baseball investigation determined he used and possessed testosterone and human-growth hormone over multiple years, for attempting to hide his violations and for "a course of conduct intended to obstruct and frustrate the Office of the Commissioner," MLB announced Monday afternoon.

The 211-game suspension is to go into effect Thursday. Rodriguez, who was scheduled to play for the first time this season Monday night in Chicago, will appeal the ban and has the backing of the Major League Baseball Players Association.

"What I think they’re doing inappropriate is imposing a penalty that is way too harsh," union executive director Michael Weiner said in a media teleconference. "We’ve never had a 200-plus penalty on a player who may have used drugs. Among other things, I think that’s way out of line."

[ Related: MLB's Biogenesis investigation leads to 13 more suspensions ]





Rodriguez, as a player who has not been suspended previously, can play during the appeal process. He is expected to be in the New York Yankees' lineup Monday night for their game against the Chicago White Sox.

"We continue to attack this issue on every front – from science and research, to education and awareness, to fact-finding and investigative skills," MLB commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. "Major League Baseball is proud of the enormous progress we have made, and we look forward to working with the players to make the penalties for violations of the Drug Program even more stringent and a stronger deterrent."

Rodriguez becomes the most decorated player to be disciplined over the nearly decade-long program, a list that includes noted sluggers Rafael Palmeiro, Manny Ramirez and, recently, Ryan Braun. A three-time league MVP, fifth on baseball's career home run list, and recipient of the two largest contracts ever awarded, the New York Yankees third baseman was targeted through the league's investigation into the South Florida anti-aging clinic, Biogenesis of America, and the company's ties to major- and minor-league players.

If the ban is upheld, Rodriguez, 38, would lose about $34 million in salary. He is under contract with the Yankees for four seasons after this one, over which the Yankees owe him $86 million.

Alex Rodriguez hasn't played for the Yankees since Game 4 of the ALCS in 2012. (Getty Images) More

As a result of the same investigation, Braun, the Milwaukee Brewers outfielder and also a former MVP, was suspended for the remainder of the season – 65 games – on July 22. Braun, who'd previously beaten a positive test result through the league drug program's appeal process, did not appeal MLB's decision.

Rodriguez's 211-game suspension, if upheld in the appeals process, could leak into 2015, depending on how long the appeal takes. Rodriguez will make $61 million from 2015-17.





Rodriguez, like Braun, was suspended under the commissioner's "just cause" powers under the Joint Drug Agreement, in which players can be disciplined outside the 50-game/100-game/lifetime-ban structure, typically in non-analytic evidence. That is, without a positive test.

In January, the Miami New Times published documents that appeared to identify Rodriguez as a client of Biogenesis and Bosch. The publication noted Rodriguez's name – either as "Alex Rod," "Alex R," or the clinic's nickname for him, "Cacique" – appeared 16 times. Yuri Sucart, Rodriguez's cousin and prior steroids mule, also appeared in the documents. According to the report, the entries claimed Rodriguez had received HGH and synthetic testosterone – in the form of creams and lozenges – over a four-year period. All are on baseball's list of banned substances. Alleged money owed and payments made also were recorded.

Story continues