New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has been banned from baseball for 211 games.
The ban, which is the longest ever handed out by Major League Baseball (MLB), will ensure that Rodriguez misses the rest of the current season and the entire 2014 campaign.
The 38-year-old, who has previously admitted taking performance-enhancing drugs, was found to have violated the MLB's joint drug prevention and treatment program.
A statement from the league today said that Rodriguez's ban was due to "his use and possession of numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including testosterone and human growth hormone, over the course of multiple years".
He was also punished for attempting to cover up the violations and obstructing the league's investigations into the allegations.
The ban is due to start on Thursday, although Rodriguez is expected to appeal the decision and will be eligible to play until a final verdict is made.
Rodriguez, who is the highest paid player in the history of baseball having signed a 10-year contract worth $275m (£179m) with the Yankees in 2007, is considered by some to be one of the greatest players of all time.
Barney Corkhill
