Braun tests positive for PED | Presser update pg. 42

[WEFFPIM]

Braun is really going after ESPN without mentioning ESPN.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

I know posters have said that Braun is such a competitive person that all this will add fuel to the fire, but I'm kind of in the camp he will have a down year with all the pressure. That wears on a person to have to deal with it every city he goes to with everyone booing him. Even an athlete as great as Tiger couldn't use negative press as motivational. Add in a down performance will prove guilt for a lot of fans, it just begins to snowball.

[paulpressey25]

-says test was 10-1-11

-Says he got results on 10-19-11

-Told baseball officials "I did not do this"

-Offered to take every test to prove "I did not do this"

-Told number was 3x higher than ever recorded before and made Ryan question validity of result

-Ryan said he didn't gain a single pound or better running speed time and workouts identical for last six years.

-Have been tested 25 times in past and 3 times in 2011 season. Never a positive.

-Said burden falls on player to prove bad test.

-Said sample provided at 4:30pm after 1pm game. Collector left field at 5pm. Fed-Ex was open 24-hours. 19 locations between his house and the ballpark. Sample is a "number" and not a name when sent into Fed-Ex"

-Said collector brought in sample at 1:30pm on presumably Monday. Not sure why sample didn't get there at 7:30am on Monday morning.

[ReasonablySober]

I hope to get some video of this after work.

[WEFFPIM]

He is DESTROYING things right now.

[trwi7]

Braun is owning this so far.

[trwi7]

Considering all legal options.

[paulpressey25]

He is DESTROYING things right now.

He is owning it on the custody issue.

But I still want to re-hear his initial comment where he sort of denied things. It was lawyer-esque I thought, but I want to re-watch.

[paulpressey25]

Q- from reporter. "100% sure that it didn't enter my system"

Again, I still don't understand that answer. I'd rather have people ask have you ever ingested or used PED's.

[crkone]

my ears!!!

[trwi7]

Who was the collector?

I can't answer that because of potential ongoing litigation.

[ReasonablySober]

Twitter reaction is 100% positive. I can't wait to get audio/video.

[paulpressey25]

-"we have no idea what did happen to it (my sample) or what could have happened to it (during custody)"

-Said process is "you are 100% guilty until proven innocent"

[crkone]

Can't wait for Deadspin to find out about the collector. They seem to be the right people for the job.

[Kerb Hohl]

I happened to listen to this via radio. Home run.

[trwi7]

Considering the potential for ongoing litigation putting sort of a gag on him in what he could say, that was the best Braun could have done.

[JayMKE]

Braun is a much classier individual than I will ever be judging by the way he's handled this situation

and lol Kruk pulling a 180

[MrLynch07]

Can't wait for Deadspin to find out about the collector. They seem to be the right people for the job.

I've been thinking the same. Overall well spoken and confident on Brauns behalf

[paulpressey25]

Based on what he's said here, he's got an air-tight case on the custody issue. No doubt you can't let a collector take a sample and keep it in his home fridge for 44-hours. I think he thus should (and did) win his hearing on the suspension.

The part I'm less clear on is whether or not he's ever used PED's. I'd like to see the transcript of this thing. Maybe I mis-heard but it sounded like one of those denials that didn't address the question of whether or not he's ever used PED's in the past or during the time this test was taken.

He kept noting that "The System has decided I was innocent" ergo, I'm innocent and ergo I've never used PED's. That isn't really true though. The system decides whether or not you are are found guilty of the charged crime under the rules and terms of the proceeding. As with OJ, it never proves your innocence.

Now in fairness to Braun, none of this should have gone public and based on the custody situation they can't implement a suspension. I just wish he would have clearly said that "I have not ever used PED's in my life". Maybe he said that and I missed it. If he didn't say that, some national writers are going to keep this going over his approach to the press conference IMO.

[trwi7]

So this isn't enough for you?

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