Former baseball star Kazuhiro Kiyohara was sentenced Tuesday to 2½ years in prison, suspended for four years, for possessing, using and purchasing illegal drugs.

The ruling by the Tokyo District Court means that the 48-year-old former Seibu Lions and Yomiuri Giants slugger walked free.

His lawyers had requested a suspended term with probation, which would have required him to take part in a government-sponsored rehabilitation program to prevent recidivism.