A-Rod can play during suspension appeal


August 5, 2013 at 9:51a.m.

A-Rod can play during suspension appeal

NEW YORK (AP) -- Alex Rodriguez figures to have a one-of-a-kind day today. He’ll receive a lengthy suspension from baseball and then head to the ballpark to play for the New York Yankees for the first time this season.

A-Rod’s suspension, likely through the 2014 season, was to be announced as part of Major League Baseball’s latest drug investigation, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.

Major League Baseball informed the Yankees on Sunday that A-Rod will be suspended for his links to a clinic accused of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because no statement was authorized.

But the person also said A-Rod will be eligible to play while he appeals the penalty to an arbitrator.