Escobar banned 3 games for slur on eye black

Updated: September 18, 2012, 3:48 PM ET

ESPN.com news services

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar has been suspended three games without pay for displaying a gay slur on his eye black during a recent game.

The Blue Jays announced the suspension Tuesday, stating that they met with Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association to determine Escobar's punishment.

At least one photo taken by Getty Images showed Escobar wearing the eye black with the slur written in Spanish during Saturday's game against the Boston Red Sox. Getty Images confirmed the photo's authenticity to ESPN.com's Keith Law.

The Blue Jays also said that the salary Escobar loses during the suspension will be directed to a team-affiliated charity and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.

"Yunel will participate in an outreach initiative to help educate society about sensitivity and tolerance to others based on their sexual orientation," the Blue Jays said in a statement. "His participation will be conducted in consultation with all parties involved. Escobar will also participate in a sensitivity training program in accordance with the Toronto Blue Jays and Major League Baseball.

"The Blue Jays want to reaffirm that discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated."

Associated Press 19 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/8395863/toronto-blue-jays-yunel-escobar-suspended-three-games-gay-slur-eye-black
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