Braun tests positive for PED | Presser update pg. 42

[emunney]

Wasn't there an article about former Brewer farmhand (and Braun's U teammate) Brendan Katin having had his positive test overturned?

[chuckleslove]

Good call

http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/a ... e_26155860

[trwi7]

Wasn't there an article about former Brewer farmhand (and Braun's U teammate) Brendan Katin having had his positive test overturned?

Yes

[humanrefutation]

Wasn't there an article about former Brewer farmhand (and Braun's U teammate) Brendan Katin having had his positive test overturned?

Yes

Biggest difference:

In 2007 in the Minor Leagues, players would submit two urine samples -- marked "A" and "B." Katin was notified that he tested positive for high levels of testosterone, and he said the "B" sample was then tested for synthetic drugs. It came back negative. Now, if a player has a high level, Major League Baseball will automatically test for synthetic drugs before contacting the player.

Braun's B sample came back positive for synthetic drugs, IIRC.

[stevescheffler06]

I believe the second test checked for synthetic testosterone after the first just looked for elevated levels. The first is a marker, like error check on your online taxes before you submit and the second test is like an audit. Much more thorough.

[humanrefutation]

I believe the second test checked for synthetic testosterone after the first just looked for elevated levels. The first is a marker, like error check on your online taxes before you submit and the second test is like an audit. Much more thorough.

Yeah, I think you're right on this.

[Captain Erv]

Braun to accept MVP, speak

By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel

Jan. 18, 2012 12:49 p.m. |(1) Comments

Brewers leftfielder Ryan Braun will make his first public appearance since news leaked of his positive test for a banned substance when he attends the annual Baseball Writers Association of America awards dinner Saturday to accept his National League MVP Award.

"He will be there and he will accept his award," Matthew Hiltzik told the New York Times. Hiltzik is a spokesman hired by Braun's agency, CAA Sports, after ESPN reported in December that he tested positive for a banned substance in October and faces a 50-game suspension to begin the 2012 season if he can't get it overturned in an arbitration hearing.

Braun sent text messages to the Journal Sentinel after that report aired, saying, "I'm innocent. This is B.S." But he has not spoken publicly since that report indicated he tested positive for a very high level of testosterone.

While Braun will give an acceptance speech upon accepting the MVP award, the BBWAA has been told that he will not do media interviews.

The date of Braun's arbitration hearing is being kept confidential but is expected to be near the end of the month. An MLB source told the Journal Sentinel that the Brewers and Braun will know his status before the start of spring training. The Brewers open camp on Feb. 18 with pitchers and catchers reporting.

Braun's status could still be unknown when he is scheduled to appear at the Brewers "On Deck" fanfest event on Jan. 29 at the Frontier Airlines Center.

[humanrefutation]

That'll be awkward.

[Captain Erv]

Not optimistic, but interested to hear his side.

Closer to the truth

By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel

Jan. 20, 2012 |(0) Comments

Ever since ESPN's "Behind the Lines" reported the leak of Ryan Braun's positive drug test back in December, we've been waiting for Braun to tell his side of the story.

Braun sent me text messages that night, proclaiming, "I am completely innocent. This is B.S."

Braun later texted me that he wanted to hold a press conference immediately to tell his side of the story but was advised against it until his appeal was heard by an arbitration panel. Well, that appeal hearing began Thursday, first reported by the New York Daily News. I haven't learned yet if it concluded or will resume Friday.

This finally puts us closer to Braun being able to give his side of fhe story publicly. His lawyer, David Cornwell, did so privately in the hearing.

If Braun is successful in becoming the first major-league player to have a positive drug test overturned via arbitration, MLB will make no announcement because the entire process is supposed to be confidential. The test result itself never was supposed to be leaked. If Braun loses his appeal, MLB will announce a 50-game suspension to take effect at the start of the 2012 season.

If the three-man panel rules in Braun's favor, presumably he will make some kind of statement that he indeed was proven innocent and none of this ever should have happened.

If he is suspended, Braun will still want to tell his side of the story. His side made it clear from the beginning that he didn't take a performance-enhancing drug, that it was a banned substance of some kind that he presumably took unknowingly. Suspension or not, there's a big difference between taking a PED or a banned substance of some kind that apparently boosted his testosterone to an amazingly high level.

The problem Braun faces is that MLB has a "strict liability" policy for banned substances. It doesn't care whether you took them unknowingly or not. You are supposed to be ever vigilant and get anything you take cleared by your team's medical staff.

We should learn sometime next week what the verdict is from Braun's hearing. With an MLB representative on the three-man panel as well as one from the players union, Independent arbitrator Shaym Das likely will cast the deciding vote.

Either way, we all just want to know what really happened.

[skones]

Dan Patrick citing source Ryan Braun may be exonerated in drug test by MLB. Says it was not a personal reason for positive test.

Per Robb Vogel's Twitter account.

[Aaron It Out]

Dan Patrick citing source Ryan Braun may be exonerated in drug test by MLB. Says it was not a personal reason for positive test.

Per Robb Vogel's Twitter account.

PLEASE LET THIS BE TRUE!

[MikeIsGood]

Dan Patrick citing source Ryan Braun may be exonerated in drug test by MLB. Says it was not a personal reason for positive test.

Per Robb Vogel's Twitter account.

Holy **** **** if true.

[MickeyDavis]

Personal reason? Makes no sense. From what I gather ANY kind of med you take for any reason has to be preapproved by the team and league. The reason you take it doesn't matter.

[crkone]

Personal reason? Makes no sense. From what I gather ANY kind of med you take for any reason has to be preapproved by the team and league. The reason you take it doesn't matter.

It sounds like Patrick was hinting that it was pre-approved and MLB dropped the ball on it.

Edit: Scratch that. Two other Brewers had high levels of this banned substance too in the same test.

[UWM_Brew_Buck]

Dan Patrick citing source Ryan Braun may be exonerated in drug test by MLB. Says it was not a personal reason for positive test.

Per Robb Vogel's Twitter account.

PLEASE LET THIS BE TRUE!

Hopefully it is true but I am not holding my breath.

[WEFFPIM]

Frankly, just some sort of resolution is what I'm looking for now.

[Balls2TheWalls]

Him getting exonerated would be huge for the Brewers. I think we could compete without him, but not missing him for 50 games would be gigantic.

[ReasonablySober]

Personal reason? Makes no sense. From what I gather ANY kind of med you take for any reason has to be preapproved by the team and league. The reason you take it doesn't matter.

It sounds like Patrick was hinting that it was pre-approved and MLB dropped the ball on it.

Edit: Scratch that. Two other Brewers had high levels of this banned substance too in the same test.

Well WTF?

[BUCKnation]

Frankly, just some sort of resolution is what I'm looking for now.

this. hopefully its a good result though

[MickeyDavis]

I thought the Brewers had told MLB that they had not approved anything and didn't know anything about what he took.