Photo: content.usatoday.com
- Adam ParkerThe 2011 National League MVP, Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers, is the newest name on the infamous list of MLB players who've been guilty of using performance enhancing drugs.
Last season, Braun, alongside fellow star teammate Prince Fielder, led the Brewers to their first division title in almost three decades.
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."
The outfielder has told those around him that he did not knowingly take any banned substances and hoped to prove that during the arbitration process.
However, despite Braun not having any 'priors' on his record, his chances of getting out of this are slim to none, considering that no other player has won their appeal and overturned the results of a positive test.
If nothing else, Braun can take solace in the fact that the Brewers and the city of Milwaukee are behind him.
"Ryan Braun has been a model citizen in every sense of the word, both in the Milwaukee community and for the Brewers," Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said in a statement released Saturday night. "Since joining our organization in 2005, he has been a person of character and integrity."
"We are dealing with an incomplete set of facts and speculation," Attanasio said in the news release. "Before there is a rush to judgment, Ryan deserves the right to be heard. We are committed to supporting Ryan to get to the truth of what happened in this unfortunate situation."
I have to admit, as a journalist, and more importantly, as a baseball fan, that I am appalled and taken aback by the league's findings. I mean, outside of maybe the Yankees' Derek Jeter, Braun is the last guy I would have expected to test positive for PED's.
Today is a sad day for the Brewers and an even sadder day for Major League Baseball. Ryan Braun was one of the bright stars in the league, and more importantly, he was one of the few who remained untainted by the PED cloud.
I don't know which path Braun plans to take from here, but hopefully, with a little luck and a lot of proof, he'll be cleared of 'juicing.'
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