MLB this afternoon suspended Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez for 211 games through the '14 season. A release from MLB said the suspension was due to the “use and possession of numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including Testosterone and Human Growth Hormone, over the course of multiple years.” The discipline is for Rodriguez “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 investigation.” The suspension will become effective on Thursday, though it will be stayed until an appeal is completed. Rodriguez has indicated he will appeal any discipline.
ESPN ran a special edition of “SportsCenter” featuring Bob Ley and T.J. Quinn at 3:00pm ET, when MLB officially announced the suspensions of Rodriguez. MLB Network had live coverage of the news with Greg Amsinger, Harold Reynolds, Tom Verducci and Jon Heyman. All three cable news networks – CNN, MSNBC and Fox News – covered the Rodriguez suspension as soon as it was announced. Newsday’s Neil Best tweeted that SportsNet N.Y. had live coverage discussing the Rodriguez suspension, but YES Network, the Yankees’ TV partner, did not (THE DAILY).
