Major League Baseball has honored Melky Cabrera's request to remove himself from contention for the National League batting title.

"After giving this matter the consideration it deserves, I have decided that Major League Baseball will comply with Mr. Cabrera's request," Bud Selig said in a statement. "I respect his gesture as a sign of his regret and his desire to move forward, and I believe that, under these circumstances, the outcome is appropriate, particularly for Mr. Cabrera's peers who are contending for the batting crown."

Cabrera, who is serving a 50-game suspension for violating baseball's anti-drug policy, entered Friday with a league-leading .346 average.

Selig had said Wednesday "we generally don't interfere" in the batting title issue.