Sammy Sosa had his suspension reduced to seven games, and will begin serving the suspension today.

"I am convinced of the sincerity of Sosa's explanation and his contrition," Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, said. "In my opinion, his candor and the promptness of his apology on the night of June 3 were exemplary.

"However, at the end of the day, each player must be accountable for his own equipment complying with the rules, whether the violation is deliberate or inadvertent."

Clinton and Sosa became friends when Clinton was in the White House, and the former president counseled Sosa by telephone.

"He told me to stay strong and don't give up," Sosa told the Sun-Times. "It's something that happens to people. It'll go away." Donald Trump, whom Sosa considers a friend, also was quick to phone Sosa and express support. "The support I've been having is tremendous, unbelievable," Sosa said. "I never have seen so much support in my life, because I say the truth. When you say the truth, people will believe you. At the beginning, they don't.