Alex Rodriguez paid nearly 1-mln dollars to buy cousin's silence over sensitive matters

Court documents have revealed that doping accused American baseball star Alex Rodriguez shelled out nearly 1 million dollars to buy out his cousin's silence on very sensitive matters.

Documents files in federal court in Miami said that the Yankees star paid his cousin and former personal assistant Yuri Sucart 9,00,000 dollars in 2013 and gave him and his family medical insurance, a 2009 Chevrolet Suburban and a 5-bedroom house, in return for Sucart keeping quiet on confidential matters.

The alleged hush money came in response to a December 2012 letter from Sucart's attorney, Jeffrey Sonn, threatening a lawsuit and demanding 5 million dollars and a life estate for his client, CNN reported.

The letter said that unfortunately for Rodriguez, litigation with him over Sucart's employment agreement would reveal all of his duties he instructed his cousin to perform.

According to court documents, Sucart introduced and personally arranged meetings between Rodriguez and Tony Bosch, the founder of the Biogenesis anti-aging clinic in Miami that is alleged to be at the center of Major League Baseball's largest doping scandal.

Fourteen players were suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs from the now closed clinic, including Rodriguez, who received a 162-game suspension, the most severe doping penalty in MLB history.

Sucart was arrested in August and charged with conspiracy and distribution of illegal steroids in connection with the scandal.

In court documents, federal prosecutors said the letter from Sucart's lawyer suggested the defendant would maintain his silence in exchange for money.

Sonn revealed that this was not a threat, adding that this was about Rodriguez's promise to employ Sucart for life and his breach of that agreement. He said that these guys were like brothers.