Breaking News: Braun Wins Appeal-- No Suspension

[a700hitter]

Huge news:

Ryan Braun Wins Appeal, Will Not Be Suspended

By Mike Axisa [February 23 at 4:09pm CST]

 

Ryan Braun has won the appeal of his failed banned substance test and will not be suspended for the first 50 games of the season, reports Tom Haudricourt of The Journal Sentinel. The union officially announced the win, saying both parties agreed to the announcement despite what is usually a confidential process. MLB has issued a statement saying it "vehemently disagrees" with the decision.

 

"It is the first step in restoring my good name and reputation," said Braun in a statement passed along by MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. "We were able to get through this because I am innocent ... This is not just about one person, but about all current and future players, and thankfully the process worked."

 

Haudricourt says the appeal went Braun's way not because of the test result, but because of a technicality with the testing process. Independent arbitrator Shyam Das ruled in favor of the technicality, giving the reigning NL MVP the win by a 2-1 margin. Braun is the first player to have a suspension successfully overtuned through the appeals process.

[Emmz]

So he's claiming innocence over that? His good rep is restored? Lawl.

[ORS]

So he's claiming innocence over that? His good rep is restored? Lawl.

Lawl, indeed. Particulary when it sounds like his appeal was won over a technicality, not the result. He'll be considered guilty in the court of public opinion, along with many others who have not been suspended.

[User Name]

"Getting away with murder".

[Emmz]

Lawl' date=' indeed. Particulary when it sounds like his appeal was won over a technicality, not the result. He'll be considered guilty in the court of public opinion, along with many others who have not been suspended.[/quote']

 

Yeah. I didn't think I could have any less respect for Braun, but he pulled it off if this is what it looks like.

[Laser Show]

So he won on a technicality and now he thinks he's redeemed himself?

 

He's either going to decline substantially, get injured, or get busted this year.

[User Name]

Giving him the benefit of the doubt though, what if the "technicality" is actually a testing error that harmed his results?

[Emmz]

Thats why I said if it is what it looks like. It looks bad.

[User Name]

I wasn't calling anyone out with the comment. Just playing devil's advocate.

[a700hitter]

If the testing process is flawed or compromised in any way, the results are not reliable. This is not a technicality like forgetting to read a defendant his Miranda rights or not having a valid search warrant. This is about a procedure that was tainted or compromised in some manner.

[Reck]

The MLB will be hounding this guy for the rest of his career so I wouldn't be shoving my "innocence" in people's face just yet.

 

Imo, he's a dopehead and that will hang over him forever.

[Divinity]

He's still guilty, he just got off because the sample sat at the collectors basement for 2 days before it could be be mailed out. The seals were intact so it wasn't even tampered with.

 

According to one of the sources, the collector, after getting Braun's sample, was supposed to take the sample to a FedEx Office for shipping.

 

But the source said the collector thought the FedEx Office was closed because it was late on a Saturday and felt the sample wouldn't get shipped until Monday.

 

As has occurred in some other instances, the collector took the sample home and kept it in a cool place, in his basement at his residence in Wisconsin, according to the source.

 

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. Sources previously confirmed synthetic testosterone in his system. A source says MLB is livid and is considering options and other comment.

 

he source told ESPN the seals were totally intact and testing never reflected any degradation of the sample. Based on the World Anti-Doping Agency code, this is exactly what would have been expected to happen, and the collector took the proper action, the source said.

 

The source also noted that synthetic testosterone doesn't just show up because a sample sits in one place or another.

[jacksonianmarch]

I could care less.

[BSN07]

Looks like his defense team took an alternate approach to the appeal then others have. No test result has ever been over turned. They probably decided that avenue was not worth the time and focus. Instead they went after the procedure and beat it. I can understand why MLB is livid. This put the whole testing process in question after they thought they had a pretty good system in place.

 

On the whole, I agree with Jacko, I really don't care anymore. I'm less concerned about sacred numbers being broken then I am with the product that's on the field. I'd rather guys use something and stay strong all season then them not and have a weak product on the field late in the season. The whole PED debate is retarded. Players today have way more advantages compared to previous generations even with out shooting something or taking a pill. This whole thing gets legs in the media because is gossip and dirt and whatever. The crap that a lot of people feed off of.

[Reck]

I keep reading rumors that the reason why his testosterones level were so high was because he has Herpes and his medications meddled with the results or whatever.

[ORS]

If the testing process is flawed or compromised in any way' date=' the results are not reliable. This is not a technicality like forgetting to read a defendant his Miranda rights or not having a valid search warrant. This is about a procedure that was tainted or compromised in some manner.[/quote']

I agree, if the technicality actually involves the test, then the results are not reliable. In fact, I the test was compromised in any way, I think the league wouldn't execute punishment, just my opinion. However, there are many technicalities that will have little to no impact on the test, like what actually happened, or a chain of custody documentation error, but will be sufficient enough to deem the result null and void legally....even if it is very likely accurate.

 

I don't think Braun's comments are going to serve him well now that it is known what the technicality was.

[Palodios]

Lawl' date=' indeed. Particulary when it sounds like his appeal was won over a technicality, not the result. He'll be considered guilty in the court of public opinion, along with many others who have not been suspended.[/quote']

 

The steroid witch-hunt needs to end. Why ruin reputations and careers over something that all of these players do? Baseball needs more good publicity.

 

Losing Braun would have ruined the Brewers this year. They're one of the smallest markets around, and they already lost Fielder. Having Braun play for them is good for baseball.

[SoxSport]

This decision is just another black eye for MLB. Getting off on a technicality for cheating. Another example of an arbitration process corrupted by the Players Association. In every other major sport, the Commissioner rules on player infractions. In Baseball, the Commissioner is really just an extension of the owners, and the Players Association shares the power.

 

It's a question of just how long the fans will tolerate the stonewalling of those who have cheated on steroids and HGH. Baseball is betting they will, but each episode like Braun just pushes them a little further.

 

I think at this point we have to assume that most all the major HR hitters have used steroids or HGH at one time or another --and many are probably still using HGH. The burden of proof of innocence is on them. Their day of reckoning will come with the HOF balloting. Braun just killed his HOF chances.

[ORS]

The steroid witch-hunt needs to end. Why ruin reputations and careers over something that all of these players do? Baseball needs more good publicity.

 

Losing Braun would have ruined the Brewers this year. They're one of the smallest markets around, and they already lost Fielder. Having Braun play for them is good for baseball.

Your suggestion sounds a whole lot like the "head in the sand" approach employed prior to 2003. Now that PED use is out of the closet, ignoring it like they did before would be the worst thing MLB could do for publicity.

 

I'm not saying I disagree in principle, but in terms of PR, I think you are 180 degrees out of phase.

[mvp 78]

I need to side with Braun based on personal decision. The issue is MLB sat on the blood sample too long before sending it to the Montreal testing facility. I had a housecall vet perform some bloodwork on my dog a few months ago. She waited too long to send the blood in, so certain levels got elevated. She didn't tell us this, but made a big scare over the results. When we brought our dog in to the regular vet for bloodwork the next week, he was fine.

 

MLB consistently does dumb stuff like this. It took them 20 years too long to start testing anyway. How come all my friends growing up knew Canseco and McGwire were juicing, but Selig didn't? Anyway, if you're going to test, at least do it the right way.

[ORS]

It was a urine sample. I've been surfing around looking for information about time/temperature degradations on urine samples, and all I have found is that at RT it is negligible over the amount of time it sat in the basement of the collector's house.

[jacksonianmarch]

If anything, the sample would have degraded at room temperature, so it's feasible that Braun's ratio was actually higher than 20:1.

[Palodios]

Your suggestion sounds a whole lot like the "head in the sand" approach employed prior to 2003. Now that PED use is out of the closet, ignoring it like they did before would be the worst thing MLB could do for publicity.

 

I'm not saying I disagree in principle, but in terms of PR, I think you are 180 degrees out of phase.

 

I'm not saying to ignore it. Its just a complete bitch-move to ruin these players because of it.

[Emmz]

I'm not saying to ignore it. Its just a complete bitch-move to ruin these players because of it.

 

Not everyone believes that steroids are okay, for one. If you choose to use steroids, you should face the consequences from the other side who thinks steroids are nothing but cheater drugs. Is it fun to have more homers? Duh, but not everyone wants to see drugs introduced into the game. I don't.

 

and obviously not everyone does them, plenty of the best players from the late 90s/00s are clean as far as we know.

 

Braun trying to say he's innocent is the real bitch move.

[ibot2much]

I was impressed with Braun yesterday---articulate and logical....good job

[Palodios]

Not everyone believes that steroids are okay, for one. If you choose to use steroids, you should face the consequences from the other side who thinks steroids are nothing but cheater drugs. Is it fun to have more homers? Duh, but not everyone wants to see drugs introduced into the game. I don't.

 

and obviously not everyone does them, plenty of the best players from the late 90s/00s are clean as far as we know.

 

Braun trying to say he's innocent is the real bitch move.

 

Steroids need no introduction in the MLB. The league lost any innocence it had in this matter about 15 years ago. It shouldn't glorify players as they chase home run records, then crucify those players years afterwards. Drug testing is good for the game. Suspending first time offenders for half a year, humiliating them, and ruining their team for doing it is unreasonable.

[Reck]

Steroids need no introduction in the MLB. The league lost any innocence it had in this matter about 15 years ago. It shouldn't glorify players as they chase home run records' date=' then crucify those players years afterwards. Drug testing is good for the game. Suspending first time offenders for half a year, humiliating them, and ruining their team for doing it is unreasonable.[/quote']

 

So first time offenders get a pass in your eyes? C'mon, you talk about being unreasonable and yet you said things like this.

 

If anyone got humiliated here it certainly was the MLB. I mean, getting off on a technically..ouch. That one hurts because you know 100% someone got away with it and you can do nothing about it because some lawyer found a loophole. :thumbdown

[Emmz]

Steroids need no introduction in the MLB. The league lost any innocence it had in this matter about 15 years ago. It shouldn't glorify players as they chase home run records' date=' then crucify those players years afterwards. Drug testing is good for the game. Suspending first time offenders for half a year, humiliating them, and ruining their team for doing it is unreasonable.[/quote']

 

So because it wasn't cracked down on then, it shouldn't be cracked down on, or what? What's your point? They should come down, but not the first time? I don't get it. How that makes it better or more reasonable.

[Palodios]

So because it wasn't cracked down on then' date=' it shouldn't be cracked down on, or what? What's your point? They should come down, but not the first time? I don't get it. How that makes it better or more reasonable.[/quote']

 

My point is that the league mishandled the whole situation, and the s*** storm is coming down--not on the league who helped create and nurture a system of cheating, but the players who are simply part of the system. Braun was what? 10 years old when the steroid era started? Of the top 10 players of our time, 5 have been crucified and won't get into the hall of fame. Selig and the league hasn't gotten s***. That's my problem.

[Emmz]

I don't see how it ties in to giving them a slap on the wrist the first time. Even if the league doesn't crucify them, the fans, who think that s*** doesnt have a place in the game, will. The players can choose to stop it, by not doing the juice and possibly not being a major player to begin with.