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Former Yankees and current San Francisco Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera, a first-time All-Star voted in by fans and eventually named the game’s MVP, was handed a 50-game suspension by Major League Baseball on Monday. The suspension is without pay and effective immediately.

Cabrera tested positive for Testosterone, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. He was batting .346, second in the National League, at the time of his suspension, which makes this a major blow to the Giants' playoff hopes.

“My positive test was the result of my use of a substance I should not have used," Cabrera said in a statement. "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.”

Cabrera was a key component offensively and defensively to the Yankees’ World Championship run in 2009, but he was traded to the Braves in the deal for Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan that December shortly after the New York acquired Curtis Granderson from Detroit. Following stops in Atlanta and Kansas City, Cabrera was dealt to San Francisco for Jonathan Sanchez and Ryan Verdugo. He quickly emerged into a prime MVP candidate after setting an MLB record with 51 hits in the month of May.

Sparked by Cabrera’s MVP performance (2-for-3, 1 HR, 2 RBIs), the National League defeated the American League, 8-0, in the All-Star game to earn its World Series representative home-field advantage.

Follow Jon Lane on Twitter: @JonLaneNYC