Ryan Braun tests positive for PED

[shaud19]

National League MVP Ryan Braun, who last season led the Milwaukee Brewers to their first division title in nearly three decades, has tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug and faces a 50-game suspension if the initial finding is upheld, two sources familiar with the case told "Outside the Lines."

Major League Baseball has not announced the positive test because Braun is disputing the result through arbitration.


Ryan Braun went from being one of the game's best young players to being one of the most prominent to test positive for performance-enhancing drugs, writes Buster Olney. Story

A spokesman for Braun confirmed the positive test Saturday and issued a statement: "There are highly unusual circumstances surrounding this case which will support Ryan's complete innocence and demonstrate there was absolutely no intentional violation of the program. While Ryan has impeccable character and no previous history, unfortunately, because of the process we have to maintain confidentiality and are not able to discuss it any further, but we are confident he will ultimately be exonerated."

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/...enhancing-drug

[thepolishkid88]

No Hebrew Hammer? Yes! Hope they open the year 0-50.

Funny thing is the Pirates first game verse the Brewers is Game 52. Amazing.

[canuck2]

I'm sure it was a tainted supplement Ryan.

He knew he had a positive test before he was named MVP.

When Alex Rodregay was caught Ryan was quoted as saying "Alex should just come clean and it will go away faster".
How do you feel now Ryan?

[Broons66]

This isnt good news for MLB. One of the games youngest,brightest stars,caught juicing. The results are being contested,but whatever. I thought the league was getting a handle on this. Yea,the A-Rods,Mannys,Sosa's,Bonds,McGuires were poster children,cant believe Brauns stupity. Crazy!

[Flyer_Frank]

It will be interesting to see how his numbers hold up after he comes back.

[chilly666]

are we gonna have another vote for mvp like the nfl did with brian cushing??

[FrontLineAdmirals]

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/135405518.html

A very good source on the Ryan Braun side of the drug testing controversy assures me that Braun did not test positive for a performance-enhancing drug, as reported by ESPN's "Outside the Lines."

ESPN reported that Braun tested positive for a PED that gave him an abnormally high testosterone level, which proved to be synthetic and therefore not produced by the body.

But my source -- and again, this is from Braun's end and not MLB -- familiar with the test's findings says the "prohibited substance" was not a performance-enhancing drug or steroid of any kind. And the source says there has "never" been a result like this in the history of the MLB testing program.

The source said MLB "knows that Ryan is telling the truth" and that source firmly believes the postive test will be overturned. Pretty amazing stuff, huh?

The source said more detail couldn't be provided at this time because of the ongoing legal process. But suffice it to say that this is getting more interesting by the minute. If the prohibited substance wasn't a PED, it still triggered a positive result in MLB's steroid-testing policy.

If the prohibited substance Braun tested positive for was a stimulant instead of a steroid, he wouldn't be facing a 50-game suspension. The first offense for stimulants results in a 25-game suspension.

[canuck2]

Originally Posted by FrontLineAdmirals

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/135405518.html

Yea right. All from Braun's camp trying to spin it. Just come clean douche bag.

[Churla22]

Originally Posted by canuck2

Yea right. All from Braun's camp trying to spin it. Just come clean douche bag.

Ah yes, guilty until proven so.

At any rate, if the allegation is true, it's very disappointing.

[Treehugger]

"No intenional violation of the program" Hey, just like Barry Bonds, its just a magical creme, I had no idea, My connection said mlb wouldnt pick this stuff up, Blah blah, blah.

The staff tells these guys every year if in doubt dont take it.

[FrontLineAdmirals]

Another article, this one about a former minor-league teammate of Braun who had initially failed his PED test, but had his suspension reversed.

LINK

He never got an explanation for the high levels of testosterone, but said it may have been caused by having a few drinks the night before the test.

[flex_buff_chest]

I don't care. The contract the pujols just signed is way more disgusting than this. If a guy wants to take his life into this hands to be a better player I don't see the issue.

[Treehugger]

Originally Posted by FrontLineAdmirals

Another article, this one about a former minor-league teammate of Braun who had initially failed his PED test, but had his suspension reversed.

LINK

Someone slipped him a roofies ?

[Redtown]

No reports that AL MVP winner Justin Verlander tested for PED.

Pretty sure there will be no reports of Nick Swisher testing for PED either

[FrontLineAdmirals]

LINK

Citing information from "somebody involved in the process," sports commentator Dan Patrick said on his radio show Monday morning that "Ryan Braun may be an innocent man" and "may be exonerated."

If this happens, obviously it would be tremendous news for the Brewers and Braun, who tested positive for a banned substance in October and appealed the finding before an arbitration panel in New York last week. It also would make it an even bigger atrocity that news of the positive test was leaked to ESPN, which reported it in early December.

Patrick said he was told Sunday, again, by "somebody involved in the process" that the MLB test might be at fault and that Braun could be found innocent. The arbitration panel, with independent arbitrator Shyam Das expected to cast the decisive vote, has 25 days to render a verdict but it could come as soon as later this week.

Some of Patrick's comments:

"There were whispers that this was a personal medical issue, that he was taking something for that, that may have spiked his test. I since found out (Sunday) that that is not the case.

"Ryan Braun may be exonerated here. He may be found innocent. And judging from all of the information I was told, there's a good chance that he should be."

Patrick went on to say that MLB is "cut and dried" about what is allowed to be in a player's system but said what Braun tested positive for "wasn't a masking agent."

"The bigger issue here is the testing and was Ryan Braun a victim of the testing by Major League Baseball," added Patrick. "Let's see how this plays out... The feeling I got (Sunday) from somebody involved in the process in this, it's not as cut and dried as people would think. And Ryan Braun may be an innocent man."