Brewers’ Ryan Braun, former MVP, suspended for doping

After declaring his innocence for a year, Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun came clean Monday and accepted a suspension for the rest of the 2013 season over doping charges.

His suspension without pay is effective immediately and includes the postseason, according to Major League Baseball.

More from GlobalPost: Baseball pitchers illustrate key human evolutionary milestone (VIDEO)

''I am not perfect," said Braun, one of the league's biggest stars and the 2011 MVP, in a statement. "I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions."

He is the first MLB player suspended in the wake of an investigation into players reportedly tied to a Florida clinic accused of distributing performance-enhancing drugs.

Braun, injured Yankees star Alex Rodriguez and more than a dozen other players were targeted following a January report by the Miami New Times about Biogenesis of America, the now-closed anti-aging clinic.

More from GlobalPost: Baseball: Braun denies wrongdoing in doping clinic links

Braun's former high school baseball coach expressed disappointment at the news, but was glad to see him own up to the charges.

"Acknowledging he did something wrong is a good thing," Steve Thompson told the Los Angeles Times. "He's hurt his image and now he's going to have to repair it."

A five-time All-Star who won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 2007, Braun is in the middle of a contract that runs through 2020 and was set to earn $8.5 million this season.