Alex Rodriguez is once again at the center of controversies after reports spread that he paid his cousin almost $1 million in exchange for his silence for A-Rod's illegal performance-enhancing drugs (PED) use. Last year, the New York Yankees star was suspended in Major League Baseball (MLB) for his involvement in the Biogenesis drug scandal.

According to the documents filed last week in US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Alex Rodriguez paid his cousin, Yuri Sucart, to closely $1 million in exchange for Sucart's silence on his illegal steroids use in June of 2013. In an ESPN report, A-Rod had been suspended for 211 games for his Biogenesis drug scandal involvement that resulted in 13 suspensions of other MLB players as well.

Nicknamed as "A-Rod," Alex Rodriguez is an American professional baseball third baseman and shortstop for MLB's New York Yankees. He is considered as one of the sport's most highly publicized prospects and one of the greatest baseball players of all time. However, A-Rod has led an extremely controversial career because of his well-paid contracts and his illegal PED use.

The news about the Alex Rodriguez's pay off was first reported by the New York Daily News. According to the news Web site, the documents filed in the pending criminal case against A-Rod's cousin, Sucart, for his association with Biogenesis and its founder, Anthony Bosch, who pleaded guilty last month.

Based on the court filing, Sucart's former lawyer, Jeffrey Sonn, demanded $5 million on behalf of Alex Rodriguez's cousin, who A-Rod identified as a supplier of illegal PEDs when he was exposed as a steroid user in a 2009 Sports Illustrated report. As per The New York Post, Sonn sent A-Rod a letter suggesting his client would remain silent in exchange for the $5 million and a life estate.

"Yuri followed your every instruction, need, and in some cases, handled matters that were of a very sensitive and confidential nature," Sonn's letter read. "He protected you and your way of life."

Alex Rodriguez's cousin first became known when A-Rod admitted to illegal PED usage while with Rangers during a news conference in 2009. The Yankees' player spoke of Sucart, who helped him transport drugs from the Dominican Republic. Within a week, MLB barred him from all facilities and Sucart's name and identity was widely spread to the public.

The court filing also stated, Alex Rodriguez came into a confidential settlement with Sucart on June 5, 2013, paying his cousin one payment of $700,000 for his silence, followed by three more payments that totaled $200,000.

Even though Rodriguez has been mum about the issues, his spokesman gave a brief statement.

"At some point in the future, Alex will have something to say," A-Rod's spokesman Ron Berkowitz told ESPN New York. "Today is not the time. When it is time, everyone will hear from Alex. Right now, he is working out and ready to return for 2015."

Alex Rodriguez's game suspension ended with the World Series' conclusion. He is reportedly on training for his comeback to the New York Yankees, to whom he is under contract for the 2015 season. A-Rod has not spoken publicly since his suspension was enacted.