Braun tests positive for PEDs.

[Dispatch]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

This is awful for the MLB. They've had a great off-season so far. This was the last thing they needed. An MVP getting busted for PEDs. Something needs to be done about the drug policy. These players are taking performance enhancers, putting up great stats, getting their big payday, and now look. Braun will serve his 50 days and still collect a big fat paycheck when he come back.

[The Big Squeezy]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

What a PR nightmare for the MLB.

[roadman]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

Sounds like a lot of Buster Olney followers on here.

I hope his arbitration into this testing proves his innocence.

Too bad he can't comment on it now.

Guilty until proven innocent.

He's putting a lot on the line for telling this to the Brewers beat writer.

Haudricourt Tom
#Brewers Ryan Braun just reached out to me and said, "I am completely innocent." bit.ly/sszcjX

Here you go folks.

We shouldn't judge until ALL the facts are laid out, especially if this is in arbitration.

http://www****online.com/blogs/sports/135392393.html

I just received a text message from Ryan Braun. Because his appeal of a positive drug test is ongoing, he cannot comment on the record about any of the details or give any information about what happened and what's going on.

But Braun was quite adamant that he will get this positive drug test overturned. He said he wanted to hold a press conference today to give his side of the story but was adviced against it while the process is ongoing.

"I can't wait to get that opportunity," said Braun.

"This is all B.S. I am completely innocent."

That's all Braun can say for now, which is understandable. But I appreciate him reaching out to me to say what he could.

[slickdtc]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

I can't remember someone getting caught with a positive test and saying their guilty. If you used PED's admit it and move on!

For real. I can only recall one, vaguely. And my mind might be playing tricks on me.

Guilty until proven innocent.

Well, he tested positive first time around. He IS guilty of that, at least. We'll see what happens now. Sounds like he's going to fight his pretty hard.

Still, we've heard this same old tired story before. Forgive us all for being cynical, we're just tired of the bull**** and lies. Own it if you did it and you'll be forgiven way more quickly.

[roadman]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

For real. I can only recall one, vaguely. And my mind might be playing tricks on me.



Well, he tested positive first time around. He IS guilty of that, at least. We'll see what happens now. Sounds like he's going to fight his pretty hard.

Still, we've heard this same old tired story before. Forgive us all for being cynical, we're just tired of the bull**** and lies. Own it if you did it and you'll be forgiven way more quickly.

We posted about the same time, but he is pretty adamant he is innocent.

And let's not cast stones until this whole story plays out, either.

I'll be the first one to post in here if he's guilty and suspended for 50 games. That's how much I believe Braun.

Did anyone else fight this thing through arbitration like Braun is doing?

Edit- More from the Brewers beat writer.

This just answered my own question above. We don't know about some players that were tested positive in the past and then it was overturned, according to this source.

But a source familiar with the situation told the Journal Sentinel that a second test requested by Braun was negative and was being used in the appeal process to overturn the first results. That source also indicated the banned substance was not a performance-enhancing drug.

“The truth will prevail; I really feel good about that,” said the source. “It just stinks that this got out before the appeal process is finished. Initial positive tests have been overturned before, proving the player is innocent, and nobody ever knows.”

Obviously, this person was on Braun's side of the story but he was vehement that he knew enough details to support his comments.

Former NBA star Reggie Miller, not an analyst for TNT, lives next to Braun in Malibu, Calif., and posted this tweet after the report surfaced: “Just spoke with my neighbor, Ryan Braun. He says test is bogus, can only believe a man for his word. Truth will always come out.”

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

[elTodd]

I really hope he is proven innocent. Despite being a Brewer, I have a lot of respect for Braun and enjoy watching him play.

[vernond]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

I will preface this with me being a Cardinal fan and any thoughts of being just and doing the right thing are far from me these days.

First thoughts.... This is a you tube world we live in these days. I'm listening to internet radio and talking about something I just found out about that happened 550 miles away. Take it all with a grain of salt. I can't remember anyone who was found to have a dirty test and actually found not guilty.

Secondly, we are all flawed. Everyone who f's up is going to be found out eventually. Wether or not you have a lapse of judgment and get caught on a smartphone with a woman who isn't your wife, or get hammered and let out a poorly thought tweet that results in you looking like a fool, or you make a bad call at work that gets you in hot water everyone will find out about it. We are in a period of adjustment in society where people need to understand that every little thing you do or say will be found out.

Assuming this is all true is Ryan Braun a bad guy? Probably not, he seems to be a good dude all things considered. He made a bad choice and got caught. That's the world we live in. If you make a bad decision you will probably get caught. The days of boys will be be boys and getting bj's or zj's...and if you have to ask then you can't afford it, are over. Gotta lock it up gentlemen, it sucks but that's the way it is. You don't wanna get caught for doing something wrong then don't do it. You wanna risk it you better be damn well sure it's something that can't be traced back to you and you've got a fort knox inner circle. This is the world as we know it and it is only going to get smaller.

[sydrogerdavid]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

I can't imagine Braun doing this. To me, this entire situation feels a different than it did with Manny, McGwire, and all those other guys. Just my gut tells me he's innocent. Whoever said these tests were infallible?

[ubernoob]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

Man... This pretty much just killed MLB for me. I'm not naieve enought to think pro athletes don't use. Braun just always seemed, I don't know, above it? Something more?

Even if somehow proven innocent, it won't matter. The damage to his name has been done. Black eye not only for Braun and Milwaukee, but for the entire MLB.

I might just be done. SMDH.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

Well, especially if he's clean, there's no reason to "be done".

[davis420]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

I hope he does prove he is innocent BUT if he's not, his reputation is damaged for years instead of saying it's true and moving on.

[Travis40]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

Many people forgave Andy Pettitte for coming out so quickly and admitting his guilt. It'd be refreshing to see another athlete do the same thing.

And here's some recent tweets on the subject.

JimBowdenESPNxm JIM BOWDEN
Based on report of pos. test because of increased level of testosterone proven to be synthetic regardless of reason it won’t get overturned

ReggieMillerTNT Reggie Miller
Just spoke with my neighbor Ryan Braun, he says test is bogus, can only believe a man for his word.. Truth will always come out..

Well, if Reggie Miller says so, that's good enough for me

And some other tidbits

Braun had never been linked to PEDs previously; in fact, at the 2009 All-Star Game in St. Louis, when commissioner Bud Selig addressed efforts by Albert Pujols to tamp down questions about steroid use, he invoked Braun as a shining example of the sport’s tough testing policy

Asked if he were surprised that Rodriguez had been exposed as a steroid user, Braun was quoted saying, “I don’t know if I would say I was surprised. I feel like it was so rampant, so prevalent, in baseball during that time period that not much surprises me anymore. If anything, I was surprised he got caught, that it came out this long after he supposedly did it.”

[roadman]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

It would be refreshing to see people not to rush to judgement with every BSPN report that comes out.

He's going through arbitration. Let the chips fall where they lay.

[SPTO]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

First of all, when I heard the news last night I was quite disappointed because to me Braun is a shining example of a guy who's done everything right. He's a poster boy for consistency and being a good guy. I don't think being found positive for testosterone makes him a bad guy but if it's true it does change the public perception that he has among fans.

I'm going to hold out hope that despite this it's not actually something he was taking to cheat the system. I remember an NHL goalie (can't remember name offhand Maybe Jose Theodore) was found to be taking "PEDs" and it turned out to be hair growth formula so it can be any number of things. If indeed it's something a simple as a medication or something else that gave a false reading then Braun should try to get ahead of the story. Even if he's indeed guilty the best thing is to get out there and say what you got to say. Don't stonewall or protest your innocence too loudly because fair or not that's gonna get some people to disbelieve even if you're telling the truth.

Here's to hoping that Braun's integrity will remain intact because I've always liked him as a player but if indeed he's been trying to cheat the system it's going to be one of those things where I understand why he did it (it's human nature) but at the same time i'll be very disappointed that he had to resort to that to give him confidence and/or an edge.

[Travis40]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

It would be refreshing to see people not to rush to judgement with every BSPN report that comes out.

He's going through arbitration. Let the chips fall where they lay.

MLB says Braun failed a drug test. We're only going on what we've heard, which is pretty convincing. I obviously hope it isn't true, because it'll only hurt the game, but I'd be shocked if he could beat this.