Major League Baseball is suspending players from participating in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League this winter as it seeks clarification on how to comply with the U.S.-imposed economic embargo against the government of Venezuela, several people familiar with the matter said.

The prohibition applies to major-league and minor-league players, these people said. The ruling won’t prevent Venezuelan players from returning to their home country in the off-season. MLB began informing teams of its decision on Thursday.

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