Ryan Braun (1 Viewer)

[dparker713]

He is done for the first 50 games; they cannot waive it because then this sets precedence for other ballplayers to commit the same infraction.

We really know nothing at this point. We have no solid basis to conclude he'll actually be suspended.

 

[uconnalum]

What we do know is the following:

1. Baseball has 2 samples of his Urine one tested by MLB that returned a record level of testosterone. 2nd sample was sent to WADA and also tested for a high level of testosterone. Further tests on that sample revealed synthetic testosterone.

2. Test administered by Braun's camp revealed levels have returned back to normal. Camp also states a medication prescribed to him by a physician to treat a private matter (possibly a STD) could be the reason for the failed test.

3. CBA which all MLB Players sign to state they received, read and understand the contents of the CBA has a section for Physicians to fill out an exclusionary form if prescribing a medication to a player which may cause a positive drug test. He did not get that filled out.

4. You cannot go and fill out an exclusion form after a failed drug test.

5. MLB has not lost an appeal yet for a failed drug test. MLB will not have any sympathy; Jon Lester on his comeback from Cancer had his physicians (not team physicians) get exclusions for the cancer medication he was taking when he made his return to MLB.

I think the guy is great for the game; he is young, can hit and play the field has great fantasy value. Now if his camp was smart why don't they put a positive spin on this instead of trying to make the guy look like a fool. Camp could come out and say Ryan was prescribed medication for a personal matter from a physician unfamiliar with the CBA and he did not receive an exclusion to take this medicine which caused an elevated level of testosterone. He truly regrets the incident and will serve whatever punishment deemed necessary by MLB.

 

[uconnalum]

Now here is a question I posed to a friend of mine who is a Dean of Pharmacology and his specialty is the study of HIV Medications and there effects.

10:50 AM (7 minutes ago)

This is what I find curious.

Just to give you a quick synopsis. MLB gave him a drug test. Found the testosterone reading highly elevated. Sent second sample off to WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) second sample also showed the same elevated readings. Further tests show the testosterone was synthetic in nature not created from the human body.

Ryan Braun's defense said he was taking a medication for an unspecified ailment (supposedly STD) which caused the elevated testosterone level.

Now my question for you is wouldn't the medication create natural testosterone it would not be synthetic testosterone would it. Unless the medication given to him was a steroid is that correct.

10:54 AM (3 minutes ago)



100% correct.

 

[dparker713]

What we do know is the following:1. Baseball has 2 samples of his Urine one tested by MLB that returned a record level of testosterone. 2nd sample was sent to WADA and also tested for a high level of testosterone. Further tests on that sample revealed synthetic testosterone.2. Test administered by Braun's camp revealed levels have returned back to normal. Camp also states a medication prescribed to him by a physician to treat a private matter (possibly a STD) could be the reason for the failed test.3. CBA which all MLB Players sign to state they received, read and understand the contents of the CBA has a section for Physicians to fill out an exclusionary form if prescribing a medication to a player which may cause a positive drug test. He did not get that filled out.4. You cannot go and fill out an exclusion form after a failed drug test.5. MLB has not lost an appeal yet for a failed drug test. MLB will not have any sympathy; Jon Lester on his comeback from Cancer had his physicians (not team physicians) get exclusions for the cancer medication he was taking when he made his return to MLB.I think the guy is great for the game; he is young, can hit and play the field has great fantasy value. Now if his camp was smart why don't they put a positive spin on this instead of trying to make the guy look like a fool. Camp could come out and say Ryan was prescribed medication for a personal matter from a physician unfamiliar with the CBA and he did not receive an exclusion to take this medicine which caused an elevated level of testosterone. He truly regrets the incident and will serve whatever punishment deemed necessary by MLB.

4 and 5 are just background information and not at all specific to this case. As for 1, 2 and 3 - you do not know any of these things. You're relying on reports from anonomous sources because the proceedings are supposed to be confidential. These sources may or may not be credible, but we have no idea since they're anonomous. What you've stated are not facts, they're accusations and speculation.

 

[The Kerminator]

What we do know is the following:

1. Baseball has 2 samples of his Urine one tested by MLB that returned a record level of testosterone. 2nd sample was sent to WADA and also tested for a high level of testosterone. Further tests on that sample revealed synthetic testosterone.

2. Test administered by Braun's camp revealed levels have returned back to normal. Camp also states a medication prescribed to him by a physician to treat a private matter (possibly a STD) could be the reason for the failed test.

3. CBA which all MLB Players sign to state they received, read and understand the contents of the CBA has a section for Physicians to fill out an exclusionary form if prescribing a medication to a player which may cause a positive drug test. He did not get that filled out.

4. You cannot go and fill out an exclusion form after a failed drug test.

5. MLB has not lost an appeal yet for a failed drug test. MLB will not have any sympathy; Jon Lester on his comeback from Cancer had his physicians (not team physicians) get exclusions for the cancer medication he was taking when he made his return to MLB.

I think the guy is great for the game; he is young, can hit and play the field has great fantasy value. Now if his camp was smart why don't they put a positive spin on this instead of trying to make the guy look like a fool. Camp could come out and say Ryan was prescribed medication for a personal matter from a physician unfamiliar with the CBA and he did not receive an exclusion to take this medicine which caused an elevated level of testosterone. He truly regrets the incident and will serve whatever punishment deemed necessary by MLB.

2. Have they stated this or is it just rumor?3. Do we know this? How so?

 

[The Kerminator]

This is Braun's camp trying to build support for his case. I still feel he will serve the 50 game suspension. If they grant a waiver for one person then it will just open a can of worms for future cases. He should of followed the CBA and let everybody know he had Herpes and needed treatment. That is the reason you have a medical staff. These MLB teams are not supplying crackpot doctors either they are top physicians in an array of specialties and are versed on how to treat the players according to the CBA.

Medication to Blame

Did Ryan Braun read the CBA. Have his lawyers read the CBA. There are rules in place for taking medication that may cause tainted results for PED's. Ryan's lawyers are making him look more guilty the more they leak information out to the public. They also make him look like he doesn't understand the rules he has to follow as an MLB ballplayer.

Major League Baseball’s collevtive bargaining agreement (the same one that says you can have exemptions for situations like this) doesn’t allow you to go back and get exemptions for tests you’ve already failed.

It's an interesting test case here, IF this is true.

Technically, you are right. But I can see why given the sensitive nature of this situation why hemmight not report it. I habit followed the case but I would bet there is a chamce team doctors didn't even know.

I would hope common sense would prevail and th suspension would be waived if so.

That said, it seems pretty unbelievable

Should have let everybody know? Ever hear of HIPAA? And how do we know that team doctors weren't aware of the treatment and they screwed up? And Braun should follow the CBA? I thought these were supposed to be confidential tests as called for by the CBA?

King Prawn you know as well as any other individual knows once you become a star and are in the sportlight the Anonymous Source is always somebody close to the individual or within the organization who sold them out for money. HIPAA, Confidentiality agreements, nothing will protect you from the anonymous source.He is done for the first 50 games; they cannot waive it because then this sets precedence for other ballplayers to commit the same infraction.

Always? Seems like a lot of assumption on your part.

 

[JZilla]

Now here is a question I posed to a friend of mine who is a Dean of Pharmacology and his specialty is the study of HIV Medications and there effects.

10:50 AM (7 minutes ago)

This is what I find curious.

Just to give you a quick synopsis. MLB gave him a drug test. Found the testosterone reading highly elevated. Sent second sample off to WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) second sample also showed the same elevated readings. Further tests show the testosterone was synthetic in nature not created from the human body.

Ryan Braun's defense said he was taking a medication for an unspecified ailment (supposedly STD) which caused the elevated testosterone level.

Now my question for you is wouldn't the medication create natural testosterone it would not be synthetic testosterone would it. Unless the medication given to him was a steroid is that correct.

10:54 AM (3 minutes ago)



100% correct.

You seem a little obsessed

 

[shadyridr]

lol lots of obsessing in here. the guy did peds. deal with it

 

[Wrigley]

lol lots of obsessing in here. the guy did peds. deal with it

I'm assuming he did too.But twice as high as any other test score? Seems a little weird, no?

 

[uconnalum]

No I'm not obsessing but everybody feels since he is young and the new face of baseball and if it was for some private medical reason (STD) we should give him a free pass. Everybody is willing to make an exception to the CBA for this one incident. Why should his case be treated any differently from Manny or anybody else. I think it shouldn't.

 

[uconnalum]

50 game suspension unlikely to be overturned

It looks like he will be sitting for the first 50. Now moving on if he puts up Hall of Fame numbers throughout his career; and he stays clean for the rest of this career. Will this one incident magnify all his future accomplishments.

 

[JZilla]

50 game suspension unlikely to be overturned

It looks like he will be sitting for the first 50. Now moving on if he puts up Hall of Fame numbers throughout his career; and he stays clean for the rest of this career. Will this one incident magnify all his future accomplishments.

NopeMost people seem to be buying the herps thing anyway. He'll serve the suspension because he didn't follow procedure.

 

[Sheriff Bart]

Gotta go with pumpkin eater.

 

[The Kerminator]

Ryan Braun may be innocent

Dan Patrick: Braun 'may be innocent'

By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel

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."

 

[Angry Beavers]

I would think that the longer this goes, the greater the chance Braun does not get suspended.

 

[scrumptrulescent]

I'd feel sorry for the guy if it comes out that the test was bogus. Name has been completely dragged through the mud. He should sue the hell out of MLB and give it to his favorite charity.

 

[The Kerminator]

I would think that the longer this goes, the greater the chance Braun does not get suspended.

I believe that MLB has to issue a ruling within 25 days of the appeal. That means we should hear something before the end of this week. Because the process is so-called confidential MLB will not make an announcement. I would think Braun will hold a news conference if cleared.

 

[Tony Jabroni]

I would think that the longer this goes, the greater the chance Braun does not get suspended.

I believe that MLB has to issue a ruling within 25 days of the appeal. That means we should hear something before the end of this week. Because the process is so-called confidential MLB will not make an announcement. I would think Braun will hold a news conference if cleared.

Judgement due by Sunday.

 

[The Kerminator]

I would think that the longer this goes, the greater the chance Braun does not get suspended.

I believe that MLB has to issue a ruling within 25 days of the appeal. That means we should hear something before the end of this week. Because the process is so-called confidential MLB will not make an announcement. I would think Braun will hold a news conference if cleared.

Judgement due by Sunday.

Let's hope Braun holds a news conference Sunday afternoon announcing he's been cleared . . . and that he's filed a lawsuit against MLB and those that leaked the story.

 

[Wrigley]

fingers crossed

 

[Wrigley]

According to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, the independent arbitrator in Ryan Braun's PED appeal case is not being limited to a 25-day decision deadline.In other words, it's not a given that Braun will learn his status for the start of the 2012 season anytime soon. He made an official appeal of innocence in mid-January, and it's quite clear that the case is being closely reviewed. The 2011 National League MVP tested positive in early October for "insane levels" of synthetic testosterone and faces a possible 50-game suspension.

 

[Samuel L Bronkowitz]

According to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, the independent arbitrator in Ryan Braun's PED appeal case is not being limited to a 25-day decision deadline.In other words, it's not a given that Braun will learn his status for the start of the 2012 season anytime soon. He made an official appeal of innocence in mid-January, and it's quite clear that the case is being closely reviewed. The 2011 National League MVP tested positive in early October for "insane levels" of synthetic testosterone and faces a possible 50-game suspension.

Brewers beat writer is saying the same thing and added that instead of Monday (the 25th day) he could even wait until the start of ST.

 

[Wrigley]

According to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, the independent arbitrator in Ryan Braun's PED appeal case is not being limited to a 25-day decision deadline.In other words, it's not a given that Braun will learn his status for the start of the 2012 season anytime soon. He made an official appeal of innocence in mid-January, and it's quite clear that the case is being closely reviewed. The 2011 National League MVP tested positive in early October for "insane levels" of synthetic testosterone and faces a possible 50-game suspension.

Brewers beat writer is saying the same thing and added that instead of Monday (the 25th day) he could even wait until the start of ST.

This is really ####### with my keepers

 

[jwmann2]

I'm anxious to see whether or not he wins the appeals process. Word is it was a medication he took when he was sick that boosted his testosterone levels. You're test levels are really the only indicator that someone has used a PED. Of the players that have appealed suspensions in the past, no one has ever won their appeal.

 

[Michael Brown]

I'm anxious to see whether or not he wins the appeals process. Word is it was a medication he took when he was sick that boosted his testosterone levels. You're test levels are really the only indicator that someone has used a PED. Of the players that have appealed suspensions in the past, no one has ever won their appeal.

Not true. There could be a syringe full of roids hanging out of his ###

 

[Wrigley]

I'm anxious to see whether or not he wins the appeals process. Word is it was a medication he took when he was sick that boosted his testosterone levels. You're test levels are really the only indicator that someone has used a PED. Of the players that have appealed suspensions in the past, no one has ever won their appeal.

Not true. There could be a syringe full of roids hanging out of his ###

:bonds:

 

[theToes]

Assuming the suspension is upheld, where do you see him getting drafted?

 

[Smack Tripper]

Assuming the suspension is upheld, where do you see him getting drafted?

I would take him in the 95-100 range of players. But lately I'm not convinced he'll be RYAN BRAUN and more just Ryan braun. How much did or did not the roids make him? And then we have the fielder thing. Personally, im in a league with keepers where you jump their draft slot by 2 rounds and players in the first five rounds are thrown back in the pool, so If I could get him in the 10th round of a 10 teamer id probably have to go for it, but there are red flags all over him

 

[Michael Brown]

Assuming the suspension is upheld, where do you see him getting drafted?

I would take him in the 95-100 range of players. But lately I'm not convinced he'll be RYAN BRAUN and more just Ryan braun. How much did or did not the roids make him? And then we have the fielder thing. Personally, im in a league with keepers where you jump their draft slot by 2 rounds and players in the first five rounds are thrown back in the pool, so If I could get him in the 10th round of a 10 teamer id probably have to go for it, but there are red flags all over him

Well it wasn't a PED that he tested positive for, so physically I don't think there's anything to be worried about. What I'm concerned about is that the perception from the casual fan is that he was juicing, so he might feel a little more pressure to perform well. Last year was in all likelihood the best season he was ever going to have, and normal regression coupled with the loss of Prince might have put him at .295-25-100 over a full season anyway. But NOW if his stats drop off to those levels, people will make insinuations about how his numbers aren't the same...which could cause him to press if he doesn't get off to a hot start, etc etc. And if he does press and doesn't find a groove, that 295-25-100 (which would need to be prorated down to account for missing 50 games if the suspension holds) could be his ceiling.

 

[Smack Tripper]

Assuming the suspension is upheld, where do you see him getting drafted?

I would take him in the 95-100 range of players. But lately I'm not convinced he'll be RYAN BRAUN and more just Ryan braun. How much did or did not the roids make him? And then we have the fielder thing. Personally, im in a league with keepers where you jump their draft slot by 2 rounds and players in the first five rounds are thrown back in the pool, so If I could get him in the 10th round of a 10 teamer id probably have to go for it, but there are red flags all over him

Well it wasn't a PED that he tested positive for, so physically I don't think there's anything to be worried about. What I'm concerned about is that the perception from the casual fan is that he was juicing, so he might feel a little more pressure to perform well. Last year was in all likelihood the best season he was ever going to have, and normal regression coupled with the loss of Prince might have put him at .295-25-100 over a full season anyway. But NOW if his stats drop off to those levels, people will make insinuations about how his numbers aren't the same...which could cause him to press if he doesn't get off to a hot start, etc etc. And if he does press and doesn't find a groove, that 295-25-100 (which would need to be prorated down to account for missing 50 games if the suspension holds) could be his ceiling.

Good points on the pressing scenario. But if im reading these articles correctly, his "story" sounds like just that. I'm no doctor, and I'm not up on vd treatments(thank god and knock wood), so maybe this reportedly astronomical spike can be attributed to that but if he he does go down, I'll have to assume it was with cause and he did juice. Time will tell, surprised we don't have a resolution one way or the other now

 

[Eephus]

Assuming the suspension is upheld, where do you see him getting drafted?

I would take him in the 95-100 range of players. But lately I'm not convinced he'll be RYAN BRAUN and more just Ryan braun. How much did or did not the roids make him? And then we have the fielder thing. Personally, im in a league with keepers where you jump their draft slot by 2 rounds and players in the first five rounds are thrown back in the pool, so If I could get him in the 10th round of a 10 teamer id probably have to go for it, but there are red flags all over him

I think he's worth an earlier flyer in a ten team league. OF doesn't seem as deep as it has been in other years but there's still enough talent in small leagues to get a decent OF4 or OF5 fill in until Braun gets back. 2/3 Braun + 1/3 replacement level is still probably better than a full year from the type of OF you'll get with an ADP of 100-120. The risk/reward is greater the deeper the league you're in.

 

[bigmarc27]

I took Braun in the 5th last night of a 10 teamer.

I figure it's a long season and if he's the same player, it's worth a shot. Also if he ends up winning the appeal, jackpot!

 

[Smack Tripper]

Assuming the suspension is upheld, where do you see him getting drafted?

I would take him in the 95-100 range of players. But lately I'm not convinced he'll be RYAN BRAUN and more just Ryan braun. How much did or did not the roids make him? And then we have the fielder thing. Personally, im in a league with keepers where you jump their draft slot by 2 rounds and players in the first five rounds are thrown back in the pool, so If I could get him in the 10th round of a 10 teamer id probably have to go for it, but there are red flags all over him

I think he's worth an earlier flyer in a ten team league. OF doesn't seem as deep as it has been in other years but there's still enough talent in small leagues to get a decent OF4 or OF5 fill in until Braun gets back. 2/3 Braun + 1/3 replacement level is still probably better than a full year from the type of OF you'll get with an ADP of 100-120. The risk/reward is greater the deeper the league you're in.

This is hedge I'm up against, but I'm expecting some initial rust. You are looking at 100 good games. I think the real shark move might be to let someone take him too early, and probably compromise their team and then try to trade for him on about May 15, assuming the Braun owner slips below .500

 

[Tony Jabroni]

This waiting game is a bunch of BS.

 

[The Kerminator]

This waiting game is a bunch of BS.

 

[Samuel L Bronkowitz]

ETA - From JSOnline

Phoenix - Stop me if you've heard this before. There still is no verdict on Ryan Braun's appeal of a positive drug test.

Braun is scheduled to report on time Friday and participate in the Brewers' first full-squad workout Saturday. So, if the three-man arbitration panel indeed is going to announce its decision before Braun begins spring training, as I have been led to believe, the ruling should come Thursday, or Friday at the latest.

At stake is a pending 50-game suspension. If Braun wins his appeal, there will be no penalty and obviously something went wrong with the test for which he tested positive in October. If he is denied, he will begin the suspension on opening day but still participate in spring training.

Suffice it to say that everyone involved with the Brewers wants a resolution to this issue.

 

[The Kerminator]

ETA - From JSOnline

Phoenix - Stop me if you've heard this before. There still is no verdict on Ryan Braun's appeal of a positive drug test.

Braun is scheduled to report on time Friday and participate in the Brewers' first full-squad workout Saturday. So, if the three-man arbitration panel indeed is going to announce its decision before Braun begins spring training, as I have been led to believe, the ruling should come Thursday, or Friday at the latest.

At stake is a pending 50-game suspension. If Braun wins his appeal, there will be no penalty and obviously something went wrong with the test for which he tested positive in October. If he is denied, he will begin the suspension on opening day but still participate in spring training.

Suffice it to say that everyone involved with the Brewers wants a resolution to this issue.

What are the chances that MLB has already decided and let Braun know? They would not make an announcement because the process is supposed to be confidential. Maybe Braun calls a press conference when he shows up for spring training.

 

[Samuel L Bronkowitz]

ETA - From JSOnline

Phoenix - Stop me if you've heard this before. There still is no verdict on Ryan Braun's appeal of a positive drug test.

Braun is scheduled to report on time Friday and participate in the Brewers' first full-squad workout Saturday. So, if the three-man arbitration panel indeed is going to announce its decision before Braun begins spring training, as I have been led to believe, the ruling should come Thursday, or Friday at the latest.

At stake is a pending 50-game suspension. If Braun wins his appeal, there will be no penalty and obviously something went wrong with the test for which he tested positive in October. If he is denied, he will begin the suspension on opening day but still participate in spring training.

Suffice it to say that everyone involved with the Brewers wants a resolution to this issue.

What are the chances that MLB has already decided and let Braun know? They would not make an announcement because the process is supposed to be confidential. Maybe Braun calls a press conference when he shows up for spring training.

Slim to none IMO. If Braun knows, we know. MLB won't say a word if he wins the appeal because of the confidentiality. Do you think he'd sit on that info while his name is still being trashed? He'd call a press conference 2 seconds after he found out. At the same time if he loses the appeal, MLB has to make a statement about his suspension. I'll see if I can find anything on when they have to announce it.

 

[cheese]

When is the last person who got caught and then just admitted it? What makes Braun different from every other guy who made up some excuse for failing the test? Selig/Brewers/MVP?

The testing policy is a joke if he doesn't get the 50 games.

 

[harryhood]

When is the last person who got caught and then just admitted it? What makes Braun different from every other guy who made up some excuse for failing the test? Selig/Brewers/MVP?The testing policy is a joke if he doesn't get the 50 games.

 

[dparker713]

When is the last person who got caught and then just admitted it? What makes Braun different from every other guy who made up some excuse for failing the test? Selig/Brewers/MVP?The testing policy is a joke if he doesn't get the 50 games.

Yep, because never in the history of mankin has a test rturned a false positive. How about we wait for some official information before declaring his appeal a farce?

 

[shadyridr]

Rotoworld said he won his appeal

 

[Samuel L Bronkowitz]

Brewers beat reporter Tom Haudricort just tweeted that Braun won his appeal

 

[Samuel L Bronkowitz]

Brewers beat reporter Tom Haudricort just tweeted that Braun won his appeal

My link

Phoenix - Milwaukee Brewers leftfielder Ryan Braun became the first major-league player to have a positive drug test overturned when he was informed Thursday that an arbitration panel ruled in his favor on appeal and decided against a 50-game suspension for the reigning National League most valuable player.

There has been no official announcement of the verdict but the Journal Sentinel has confirmed that Braun won his appeal.

Someone familiar with the decision said the appeal went Braun's way not so much on contesting the result of the test but the testing process itself, some kind of technicality.

Whatever the reason, the ruling was a tremendous boost for both Braun, whose reputation was at stake, and the Brewers, already missing free agent Prince Fielder from their 2011 NL Central championship club. Instead of having to figure out a way to replace Braun for the first 50 games of the season, the team can move forward with its original plans.

Braun is expected to report to the Brewers' camp Friday on schedule, and now will not have the cloud of a suspension hanging over his head. It had become a point of noticeable nervousness and anxiety among other players and staff as well as they awaited what many feared would be a negative outcome.

Braun appealed the positive test that took place in early October, at the outset of the playoffs. His hearing before a three-man arbitration panel was held in New York on Jan. 19-20, when noted attorney David Cornwell presented his case against the test result and suspension.

The three-man panel included Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Michael Weiner, MLB vice president for labor relations Rob Manfred and independent arbitrator Shyam Das. The history of such hearings suggested Weiner would back the player and Manfred would support the testing procedure, leaving Das to cast the decisive vote.

The MLB drug policy calls for a maximum of 25 days for the panel to render its verdict but that is considered more of a guideline than a rigid deadline. Accordingly, the panel took much longer to announce its decision. Thursday marked five weeks since the appeal hearing began.

There had been speculation that the delay was because Braun already had been told he won the case and his side hadn't announced it. The commissioner's office wouldn't announce the player had won the appeal because the process is supposed to be confidential. But a source familiar with the decision said Braun was not informed until Thursday.

An MLB source familiar with the history of game’s drug testing said none of the previous 12 major leaguers who appealed a positive result were able to overturn a suspension. Thus, even though successful appeals are not announced because of confidentiality, someone familiar with the process said Braun was the first major-leaguer to win an appeal.

Originally, players were suspended for 10 days but that penalty was stiffened to 50 games in 2006, with pay forfeited.

The burden of proof rests squarely on the player in such hearings because he must prove the banned substance was not in his system by his fault or through negligence. The MLB drug policy has a “strict liability” provision in which players are not exonerated merely because they ingested a banned substance unknowingly.

Braun’s positive test reportedly included “insanely high levels” of testosterone, by far the most ever detected in a player. He requested an independent drug test a few weeks after testing positive, which was clean, but it was not authorized nor recognized as exculpatory by MLB.

After ESPN reported Braun’s positive test, he immediately proclaimed his innocence, sending this test message to the Journal Sentinel: “I am completely innocent. This is B.S.”

Braun indicated he wanted to give his side of the story but was instructed not to by his advisors. But his camp went on the offensive, citing “highly unusual circumstances surrounding this case which will support Ryan’s complete innocence and demonstrate that there was absolutely no intentional violation of the program.”

The agency that represents Braun, CAA Sports, hired noted attorney David Cornwell to present his case before the panel. Cornwell had defended other high-profile athletes in such matters as well as other legal entanglements.

Shortly after taking the case, Cornwell issued a statement saying, “Any report that Ryan ingested a performance-enhancing drug is wrong.”

Cornwell limited his comments to that and the Braun camp closely guarded its defense strategy prior to the hearing. Word leaked, however, that Cornwell would attack the test finding on several fronts, questioning the veracity of the test itself because Braun’s testosterone level was more than twice as high as any previously recorded.

A source familiar with MLB’s drug policy indicated there were only a few ways to overturn a positive test, such as proving a chain-of-custody issue, a flaw in the collection process or providing proof that the player’s team signed off on the substance. Otherwise, the “strict liability” aspect of the policy makes it extremely difficult to exonerate a player.

Apparently, Braun won his appeal by contesting something in the process itself.

Braun claimed 20 of 32 first-place votes for NL MVP after batting .332 with 33 home runs, 111 runs batted in, 109 runs scored and 33 stolen bases in 150 games. He led the league with a .597 slugging percentage.

Braun has done a lot of amazing things during his big-league career, but considering the history of the drug program and its appeals, some might consider his biggest accomplishment.

 

[Softballguy]

I wasn't worried.

 

[Tony Jabroni]

THE HEBREW HAMMER IS VINDICATED!

 

[Wrigley]

This makes my year.

 

[Smack Tripper]

Good for him, I'm surprised but happy for him if he was wrongfully accused.

Now I'd like to see MLB address how this leak happened. This is a man's reputation on the line here and it could affect everything from endorsements to a HOF candidacy based on inuendo.

 

[JZilla]

Now about those herps

 

[fasteddie_21]

Good for him, I'm surprised but happy for him if he was wrongfully accused. Now I'd like to see MLB address how this leak happened. This is a man's reputation on the line here and it could affect everything from endorsements to a HOF candidacy based on inuendo.

This is so wrong it's not even funny. He got off on a gross technicality, not because he wasn't using. Here's a snippet from the story:

Braun didn't argue evidence of tampering, didn't argue anything about science being wrong but argued protocol had not been followed. A second source confirmed to ESPN investigative reporter Mark Fainaru-Wada that Braun did not dispute the science but rather questioned chain of custody/collection procedure.According to one of the sources, the collector, after getting Braun's sample, was supposed to take the sample to FedEx/Kinkos for shipping but thought it was closed because it was late on a Saturday. As has occurred in some other instances, the collector took the sample home and kept it refrigerated. Policy states that the sample is supposed to get to FedEx as soon as possible.Braun's initial T/E ratio was more than 20:1. And sources previously confirmed synthetic testosterone in his system. Source says MLB is livid and is considering options and other comment.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7608360/ryan-braun-wins-appeal-50-game-suspension