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sports Friday 20 November 2020

Mets 2B Canó suspended 162 games by MLB after drug test

NEW YORK (AP) — Strike two homers, 1,302 RBIs and two
against Robinson Canó. Gold Gloves. He played 49
The New York Mets sec- games this year in a season
ond baseman was sus- shortened from the usual
pended for 162 games by 162 to 60 because of the
Major League Baseball on coronavirus pandemic.
Wednesday after he tested Canó became a star with
positive for a performance- the Yankees, then signed a
enhancing drug for the big contract with the Mari-
second time in his decorat- ners.
ed career. His ban during the 2018
The 38-year-old Canó will season made him among
miss the entire 2021 season the most prominent players
and lose $24 million in sala- penalized under baseball's
ry. The eight-time All-Star hit anti-doping rules.
a robust .316 with 10 home At that time, Canó said
runs and 30 RBIs in this year's the diuretic "was given to
pandemic-shortened sea- me by a licensed doctor
son. in the Dominican Republic
Minus Canó, the Mets to treat a medical ailment."
could give offensive spark- Canó said he didn't realize
plug Jeff McNeil a regular the drug was banned by
spot at second base — MLB.
probably his most natural Canó has 2,624 career hits
position. The suspension and Hall of Fame-caliber
also might prompt them to statistics for a second base-
pursue free agent infielder In this March 11, 2020, file photo, New York Mets second baseman Robinson Canó warms up prior man. But with his baseball
DJ LeMahieu, an AL MVP to a spring training baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Port S. Lucie, Fla. future uncertain at age
contender the past two Associated Press 38, his latest suspension
years with the crosstown test for Furosemide, a di- The Mets fully support MLB's ously being his agent. certainly puts his pursuit of
Yankees. uretic that some athletes efforts toward eliminat- In a move that polarized 3,000 hits — and his chanc-
The penalty came less than have used to mask other ing performance-enhanc- Mets fans, the high-priced es for Cooperstown — in se-
two weeks after Steve Co- substances. ing substances from the Canó and big league saves rious jeopardy.
hen bought the Mets for "We were extremely disap- game." leader Edwin Díaz were The 28-year-old McNeil has
$2.4 billion, a move that pointed to be informed There was no immediate acquired in a deal that hit .319 with an .884 OPS in
created an avalanche of about Robinson's suspen- comment from Canó or the sent top outfield prospect three seasons with the Mets
positivity for a team that sion for violating Major players' union. Jarred Kelenic and young and was an All-Star in 2019.
has reached the playoffs League Baseball's Joint Alderson was hired by Co- pitching to the Mariners. He came up as a second
just three times in the last 20 Drug Prevention and Treat- hen on the day the Mets Canó was set to head into baseman in 2018 and has
years. ment Program," new Mets sale was completed. Gen- the eighth season of his made more major league
The commissioner's office president Sandy Alderson eral manager Brodie Van $240 million, 10-year con- starts there than at any oth-
said Canó tested positive said in a statement. Wagenen exited the same tract. He will not be eligible er single position, though
for Stanozolol, an anabolic "The violation is very unfor- day — Van Wagenen for the playoffs if the Mets he's also done fine in the
steroid. He was penalized tunate for him, the orga- made the trade to get make the postseason. outfield while shuffling be-
80 games in May 2018 while nization, our fans, and the Canó from Seattle in De- In 16 seasons, he is a ca- tween left field, right field
with Seattle after a positive sport. cember 2018 after previ- reer .303 hitter with 334 and third base. q

Rublev beats already-qualified Thiem at ATP Finals

LONDON (AP) — The lights "It was difficult to keep that strokes to take the Austri-
went out unexpectedly at amazing intensity like I had an's first two service games
the O2 Arena, causing the in the first two matches," and clinch the first set in
start of the match between Thiem said. "I wanted to less than 26 minutes. He
Dominic Thiem and Andrey win the match, 100%, but dropped only three points
Rublev at the ATP Finals to the first two matches were on serve and had no un-
be delayed Thursday. pretty tough, pretty long. forced errors in that set.
The already-qualified Thiem "So with the fact I was al- The second set was much
was short of energy, too, ready qualified, in the back closer, though Rublev was
when play eventually be- on my mind it was difficult on top and serving at 4-3
gan. to keep the intensity alive." when he lost eight straight
The U.S. Open champion Thiem said the loss to Rublev points to get back on serve.
lost to Rublev 6-2, 7-5 in a was "not painful at all." Rublev regrouped, broke
contest that had little real "I'm focused on Saturday Thiem after a long next
consequence for either now," he said. game featuring some in-
player, with Thiem assured Tsitsipas and Nadal will tense rallies, then served Andrey Rublev of Russia returns the ball to Dominic Thiem of Aus-
of being the winner of the meet later Thursday to de- out the match for his first tria during their doubles tennis match at the ATP World Finals
group after previous victo- cide who advances along win in his debut at the sea- tennis tournament at the O2 arena in London, Thursday, Nov.
ries over Stefanos Tsitsipas with Thiem. son-ending tournament. 19, 2020.
and Rafael Nadal and his Rublev played like some- "It was not easy for Dom- Associated Press
Russian opponent unable one with nothing to lose, my," said Rublev, who has season. "I think he (was) fo- serves to be where he is
to qualify for the semifinals overwhelming Thiem with won five events on the tour cused on the semis. I wish and he deserves to win the
after back-to-back losses. his serve and fierce ground- this year in a breakthrough him good luck — he de- title."q