Ottawa -- World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) gave a thumb up to the Major League Baseball's action on 13 players involved in drug violations.

The MLB Monday slashed out a record 211 ban on New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez for his involvement in one of American sport's biggest doping scandals.

Another 12 players, including three All Stars, were handed 50-game suspensions following MLB's investigation into their link with the Biogenesis Clinic in Miami.

"As we have said previously, non-analytical methods are proving to be an increasingly effective means of helping uncover those athletes who have committed foul play and breached anti-doping rules," said WADA secretary general David Howman in the statement.

"The MLB has approached the matter in a professional manner throughout, and we look forward to maintaining our close relationship as we move forward in our efforts to protect clean athletes and advocate doping-free sport," he said.