San Francisco Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera has been given a 50 game suspension, that may carry in next season, for testing positive for testosterone, a banned performance-enhancing substance.

The suspension is effective immediately and will take the 2012 All-Star Game MVP out for the rest of the season and into play-off season if the Giants make it.  There are 45 games left in this season which would require Cabrera to skip out on the first five games of 2013 if the Giants don’t go to the play-offs.

The 28-year-old player was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and came to the U.S.  as an amateur free agent in 2001 for the NY Yankees.  He currently has the second highest National League batting average at .346.

Cabrera issued a statement through the baseball player’s union: “My positive test was the result of my use of a substance I should not have used,” Cabrera said in a statement released by the players’ union. “I accept my suspension under the Joint Drug Program and I will try to move on with my life. I am deeply sorry for my mistake and I apologize to my teammates, to the San Francisco Giants organization and to the fans for letting them down.”