Yankees star Alex Rodriguez in baseball doping ban 5 August 2013 Last updated at 21:26 Baseball's highest paid star, Alex Rodriguez, has been suspended for 211 games, along with 12 other athletes, in the wake of a doping investigation. Major League Baseball banned the 38-year-old New York Yankees slugger until the end of the 2014 season. Rodriguez is the most famous player linked to a Florida clinic, Biogenesis, which has been accused of supplying banned performing-enhancing drugs. In July, player Ryan Braun was banned for 2013 for breaking drug rules. Other players suspended on Monday included the Texas Rangers' Nelson Cruz, Jhonny Peralta of the Detroit Tigers, and Everth Cabrera who plays with the San Diego Padres. They each received a 50-game ban. Cover up Major League Baseball, the organisation governing the sport, said Rodriguez had been suspended for "his use and possession of numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including testosterone and human growth hormone, over the course of multiple years." Suspended players New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz San Diego Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera Detroit Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta Philadelphia Phillies reliever Antonio Bastardo New York Mets outfielder Jordany Valdespin New York Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli Seattle Mariners catcher Jesus Montero New York Mets outfielder prospect Cesar Puello San Diego Padres pitching prospect Fautino de los Santos Houston Astros pitching prospect Sergio Escalona New York Yankees outfield prospect Fernando Martinez Jordan Norberto, a Minor League pitcher Source: Major League Baseball The statement also accused the player of "attempting to cover up his violations" by obstructing the investigation. Rodriguez was accused of interfering with the Major League Baseball investigation into Biogenesis, resulting in a harsher penalty, correspondents say. He has until Thursday to appeal the ban. Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said on Monday: "Those players who have violated the programme have created scrutiny for the vast majority of our players, who play the game the right way. We continue to attack this issue on every front. Rodriguez previously admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs while playing for a Texas team between 2001-03. He has denied using steroids since. Rodriguez was named Most Valuable Player in baseball's American League three times. He has not played this season while recovering from hip surgery, but had been expected to take the field on Monday in a game against the Chicago White Sox. The accusations against the players emerged from a major investigation into a Florida drug clinic that is suspected of distributing performance-enhancing drugs to several professional baseball players. After years of inflated batting statistics - and arm muscles - during what has become known as baseball's "steroids era," the extent of doping in the sport was laid bare in a 2007 report by former Senator George Mitchell. Mr Selig subsequently strengthened the sport's drug testing policies and created an investigative branch to prosecute drug offences. Many hoped the changes would usher in a new, "clean" era for the sport.