Major League Baseball

A's suspend prospect Krol for gay slur

Published Jul. 10, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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In the latest in a string of similar incidents causing upset across American sport, the Oakland A's suspended pitcher Ian Krol indefinitely Sunday for posting an anti-gay slur on Twitter.

The tweet was later removed, but the San Francisco Chronicle reported it was "a derogatory comment that included a homophobic slur and offensive language."

Krol, a 20-year-old left-hander considered one of the A's leading pitching prospects in the lower levels, was also suspended during his senior year of high school in 2009 for an alcohol-related incident.

News of the suspension came a day after it emerged White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham used his cleat to write "GETZ IS GAY! G.B." in the infield dirt against Kansas City -- an intended joke aimed at his former teammate Chris Getz, who was playing for the Royals. Beckham later apologized.

Also on Saturday, WWE wrestler CM Punk apologized after a YouTube video surfaced of him yelling a homophobic taunt at a fan in Australia. In the video, CM Punk, whose real name is Phillip Jack Brooks, is seen calling an audience member a "homo" in an angry altercation at the WWE Smackdown event, held at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on June 14.

In two more high-profile cases, the NBA fined Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant $100,000 in April for hurling an anti-gay slur at a referee, and little over a month later Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah was hit with a $50,000 fine for appearing to yell a similar comment at a fan.

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