23
2012
Braun Cleared On Technicality, Suspension Overturned, Two Urine Samples Still Tested Positive
An article by 
Ryan Braun: Happy Go Lucky
National League MVP Ryan Braun’s 50-game suspension was overturned today by baseball arbitrator Shyam Das, the first time a baseball player successfully challenged the MLB Suspension For Banned Substances.
The decision was announced today by the Major League Baseball Players Association, just a day before Braun was due to report for spring training.
Braun originally tested positive for elevated testosterone levels that one official said was “off the charts” last October. But several reports now indicate that the decision was not based on those results.
Instead, Braun won the appeal on a technicality because his urine samples were a reported “two days late getting to the lab”, thus breaking the chain of custody guidelines.
I’m shocked that knowledgeable and respected people such as Jon Heyman as well as others immediately posted, “He’s Inoocent”.
This wasn’t a trial – there is no innocent or guilty. It was two sides disagreeing and one person hearing both sides and making the tie breaking decision. MLB executive vice president Rob Manfred and union head Michael Weiner are part of the arbitration panel, and management and the union almost always split their votes, leaving Das, the independent panel member, to make the decision.
Two of Ryan Braun’s urine samples still tested positive for high testosterone levels, of that there is no doubt.
But the MLBPA who defended Braun tried to say that MLB could have planted the testosterone in Braun’s urine sample during the delay in getting to the lab, thus tainting them. (Because that’s what MLB does to their players.)
“I am very pleased and relieved by today’s decision,” Braun said in a statement.
I bet you are, Ryan.
MLB Exec. VP Rob Manfred said. “As a part of our drug testing program, the commissioner’s office and the players’ association agreed to a neutral third party review for instances that are under dispute. While we have always respected that process, Major League Baseball vehemently disagrees with the decision rendered today by arbitrator Shyam Das.”
They vehemently disagree, but they are the idiots that agreed to an arbitration process that lets a third party decide the punishment for a baseball player who violated “their policy. So MLB can vehemnetly disagree all they like.
The bottom line is that Braun will not be suspended, which is not to say he’s innocent, only that the arbitrator thought the urine samples tested positive because both times MLB tainted them with massive amounts of testosterone somehow.
So what do you believe?
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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All I know is, I said he’d be cleared, got attacked for it and I thought something was up and looky looky.
Who the heck asked you to chime in, sabergoon!
Hey Joe D so I guess the argument about the levels testing high due to some medicine he was taking for a STD gets swept under the rug?
I thought that was going to be his defense. Chain of custody was a surprise for me though I admit I wasn’t following this that closely to begin with.
MLB said that their defense was “If the urine got their late, then you can’t assassinate”. Only kidding, but they said the FedEx being 2 days late was what swayed the arbitrator and that was their defense all along.
What is the point in being able to appeal if you could never win. This is a major positive in how the whole process will work going forward. If they make a mistake in administering the test or processing the results or leaking the identity of the player it should be able to be over turned. Case Closed.
Say what you want, but the kid is innocent as I asserted from the beginning. You could play semantics all day long.
Semantics? So you’re saying the first test and then the automatic follow-up test which is done after a positive result, were not really positive at all? I respectfully disagree.
Cooties?
Christmas came early for Braun. Amazing! Has to be the luckiest guy in sports history.
I thought the second test was not positive? And does two days really create “off the chart” level of testosterone in someone’s urine? It seems a bit fishy to me.
Also, why does a “sample collector” keep MLB players pee in his refrigerator rather than FedExing it like he is supposed to? Was he going to sell it on Ebay?
I think Braun’s lawyers threw a bunch of excuses at the arbitrator who gave it a “reasonable doubt” if you will and overturned it.
Drew Silva @drewsilv
I want to believe Ryan Braun is innocent, but he won on a claim that his urine went on a two-day testosterone binge in a fridge somewhere.
http://twitter.com/#!/drewsilv/statuses/172817992730673153
MNJ that tweet are my thoughts exactly Lol.
And that alone should be enough Joe. Did anyone else test positive in that group that it was sent late? Not to our knowledge!
Unless this sample collector had some vendetta against Braun for some reason and threw some testosterone tablets into his sample to mess with him, I don’t see how it could have happened.
If memory serves me correctly didn’t they say it was synthetic testosterone, meaning it came from out of the body? How does urine create off the chart levels of synthetic testosterone in a matter of two days? Very fishy.
It wasn’t just Braun’s collection. They collected a dozen or so samples from random players from the team on Saturday and the collector did not know if Fedex picked up on weekend, didn’t get to lab until Monday. All the other samples were clean apparently.
You do not suspend on the results of one failed test because it could have been a false positive. All it does is trigger an automatic followup test and that one tested positive too.
I reckon it was the same dude who ‘tainted’ OJ’s blood samples back in 94. How that guy got a job with MLB is beyond me.
Even all these years later, the mere mention of that OJ trial still makes my blood boil. That was the day I learned that big money can get you out of anything including a double homicide conviction.
Suspect: “Yes, your honor, I shot and killed that man but it was not my gun. The police illegally seized it, anyway.”
Lawyer: “See, my client is NOT guilty. I’ve been tellin’ y’all that right along.”
Let me guess your a fan of Law & Order SVU?
He’s dirty and he knows it! Just what would the motivation for the collector to screw things up. If he was a 220 backup guy sitting on the bench he would be dead meat. Braun-you suck!
it doesnt matter. people know the ruling is a joke and braun is a juicer. everything he’s done, and will do, is now tainted and meaningless. he’ll get harrased on the road too. if he thinks this clears his name, he’s cluless
Just like the rich people who are given no sentence from courts because of who they are.High Profile players are also not found guilty in MLB. If he was a lesser player he would have been found gilty.
The problem I have with your point is that Manny Ramirez was suspended twice and Edinson Volquez once. The idea that Braun’s status played a part in him getting away with it as you suggest is an idea I have a hard time accepting.
Doesn’t matter if he really was guilty -which according to what I’m reading he was.
These were MLBs rules for the process. If they don’t care for the fact that some third party arbitrator gets to decide these things, they’ve got only themselves to blame. Sounds to me like they never accounted for an instance like this that would just make them look like fools.
Unless there is scientific evidence to show that delays in blood testing could possibly cause false readings, this is what happens when strict interpretation of the rules takes precedent over overwhelming evidence. I must believe that the arbitrator thought he had no choice due to an agreed upon, strictly enforced legal agreement for otherwise I cannot understand how a professional of his stature could have reached such a decision.
So Braun might be deemed innocent in the court of baseball but definitely not in the court of baseball’s public opinion.
BTW – it also conjured up memories of the Simpson trial and jury decision for me as well. Though no comparison between the two parties involved, it’s once again an example of how Innuendo could easily be used to replace fact. The last thing MLB wants is to frame the senior circuit’s MVP for all that would accomplish is the resurrection of fan anguish regarding steroids and HGH that MLB was hoping had went away.
Sorry guys, breaking a chain of custody is a huge problem. When you sign your name to it, you assume responsibility for said sample. When the terms change, it is invalidated because no one can truthfully account for the sample. It’s not a matter of the handler tainting it for some vendetta. It just takes all control of conditions from the sample, and with it its validity.
Though not to compare it to our legal system, we all know how the letter of the law can often undermine the spirit of the law. in this case, the letter of the agreement undermines the spirit of the agreement.
A friend of mine just said that every player found to have used steroids can now blame it on the delivery process.
Your friend is wrong. This specific case was apparently an error on an individual. In order to over turn all the other cases, they’d have to prove a systematic failure. Either this lab tech has done the same thing over and over or that the process itself is heavily flawed.
Nic they took samples from about a dozen other players and to our knowledge none of them turned up positive.
Not only that, but his follow-up test tested positive as well. It’s pretty damning.
Would this have been worse had Braun won the batting title over Reyes?
Just more fuel for the fire. He did get MVP.
Have to laugh at the conspiracy theories tonight.
The best is, Selig wanted to see the Brewers win, so he sends SA to the Mets, who in turn sell KRod the the Brewers. They didn’t win but Braun gets MVP. He tests positive and they can’t have that so they get the collector to stash the sample I his freezer for two days so Braun’s lawyers would have a claim of broken chain of evidence and he can win his appeal.
LOL…..some people have entirely too much time on their hands.
I guess that guy who took the samples will be fired pretty soon.
MLB keep looking more pathetic and pathetic by the day, if his name was ryan martinez this wouldn’t even be a case.. but as we’ve often seen, some people are jst more lucky than others, manny wasn’t even allowed to play in the DWL because of it, ryan didn’t even had to go to hearing.. wow..
Why do you always cheapen the discussion with accusing things based on racism? This has everything to do with a faulty process. Seriously had baseball never thought about what would happen when you collect something on a day that it could be difficult to get the sample to Fedex immediately? Can’t you have Fedex come pick it up from the lab itself? It’s MLB…
So out of ALL the players being accused, now, don’t forget, not once BUT TWICE this man did not pass the urine test, the excuse, lame as hell btw, is that the fedex guy twice tamper with his urine???? i mean, isn’t EVERY URINE SAMPLE SEALED!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Seriously, how STUPID must one be to come up with this excuse AND to believe it?? why this excuse was made exclusively for him after failing the test twice? disgustin to my stomach.. he’s a cheater, he knew what he did and got away with it… pathetic job by MLB…
Again, the issue is with MLB, the collecting process and the arbitration process. It has nothing to do with race. Why is it that any time a ruling, comment or action you disagree with always involves racism? You do know there have been races that have been found guilty other than Hispanic.
It just cheapens your opinion.
i mean, seriously, when i heard this all i kept thinking was, then EVERY OTHER PLAYER who’s ever been accused should say the same, the man obviously CHEATED despite of what anyone else says, this is just pathetic, i am soooo disgusted by it it’s not even funny… i mean, he failed the test TWICE, NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE, and somehow he still got the benefit of the doubt… amazing.. MLB at its best…
Alex68 – I agree with you that MLB messed this up completely, and as on organization they are run horribly, from Selig right on down. In my opinion from what I read I think he’s guilty too.
However, because of MLB being inept and not doing THEIR job properly he is not able to play the game.
However, please spare me the if his name was Martinez, it’s weak, insulting and there is no place for that.
Kay understand that NEVER any test was overturned before, why the sudden change? because they didn’t wanna tarnish his image? what? what exactly other excuse you can come up with to tell me why MLB allowed this to happen? manny was basically ran out of town, mota served his, paulino served his, why not braun????
Simply because he had better lawyers and MLB isnt so smart! Thats all
Dude i am agreeing i think he is guilty but because of what he did not because of his name.
“Of the 66 players suspended, 29 were from the United States, 19 from the Dominican Republic, 11 from Venezuela, three from Cuba, two each from Puerto Rico, and Mexico, and one each from Australia, Colombia, Japan, and Spain.”
Now compare that proportionality to the percentage of players of each race in the MLB.
of the 66 he’s been the SUPERSTAR out of that group… not guilty!!!!!
So two HOFers and an All-Star pitcher mean nothing?
Seriously, are you THAT stupid?!!?!? were they playing when this happen???? manny and palmeiro were crucified, braun gets a huge BREAK!!!!!!
I missed the part where Braun was waving his finger indignantly at a Congressional hearing.
Who exactly do you think is giving Braun a break? and explain how how.
The guys who’s names were leaked from the initial “survey” were guys like A-Rod, Ortiz, Manny.
McGwire kind of hung himself with the andro in his locker and Grimsley got caught red handed. Clemens was implicated by a teammate and a trainer. Pettite came clean on his own, Bonds by a criminal investigation, Giambi, Stanton and Knoblauch in an investigation, Sosa I can’t remember but I think it’s more fair to say that overall the Latin American player was outed more along the lines of leaks than the American player. Not totally as in Palmeiro/Tejada (although that was an investigation as well) or with Braun being leaked but just overall.
That and people giving Braun the benefit of the doubt and not one of our own guys with the batting title on the line can be interpreted differently by different people.
Not saying that the right conclusion was derived, maybe, maybe not. Just that it’s at the very least understandable that one could wonder and even IF wrong cannot be considered a case of crying wolf.
It takes a real simple mind to come here and talk about race as a deciding factor. First of all, MLB is NOT happy this happened. This isn’t like MLB is like “hooray Braun is cleared!” They are ticked off. So how can race be an issue?
Braun was willing to take a DNA test for his appeal, and MLB said No. He was willing to go the distance on the challenge. I don’t know that he’s innocent, what I do know and it is what I said a while ago… something smelled with this entire thing.
By the way, Braun’s father is Israeli born, proving that the above party doesn’t even know what he’s talking about. You’re acting like Ryan Braun is as white as they come because all you want to do is bring race into subjects where it does not belong.
The MLB, MMO etc don’t bring any negativity to your ethnic background, you do by using it as an excuse to ignite flame wars that don’t need to be started. People like you who look to race as an excuse are the problem. You’re the one doing harm to your ethnicity, not us.
again, it’s my opinion… simply put.. some may agree some others will not, i don’t care, it’s not about better lawyers, none of that stuff, MLB wanted his little ryan braun to not be perceived as a cheater.. it’s pathetic, degrading and humiliating to the game and the other players who have been suspended 50 games or more for failing the test…
So Mr. Conspiracy. You think that the MLB is behind the grassy knoll? LOL. So MLB just to save Braun creates a story in the beginning of him testing positive, then cooks up a story about the testing procedure issues, then brings in and buys off an arbitrator, then over-turns the suspension, then releases a statement vehemently denying the results of the arbitrator and then finally calls question on their entire testing process… just because Ryan Braun is white?
LOL.
So how much did that collector get paid by MLB to keep the samples in his freezer for 2 days?
To my understanding, he didn’t. He kept them on his desk along with several other samples.
O.K. I must have misread that somewhere last night.
On MLB radio this morning they said he kept them in his fridge…
Ya, I’m reading a few different versions. Pretty much every major outlet has their own version. Some times a few.
In my opinion… yes.. but again, let’s leave it at that…
I am sorry I can’t. You have cried the “R” here, again and I have no idea how you can even see it that way.
Why would MLB test him, convict him, suspend him, over-turn the decision and call question on the entire process and then vehemently oppose the overturning? Just because he was white?
If that was the case they would never have suspended him and if they did they would not be coming out so strongly against the over-turning they would supporting it.
again, then why on earth WAS HE GIVEN A PASS????? EXPLAIN IT TO ME!!!!
Because the lab tech messed up. Plain and simple.
For that guy who thinks he knows more than anyone at age 28, Alex Rodriguez’s parents are from DR, he was BORN here in miami.. exactly what is alex rodriguez??? F’ing idiot…
also, Palmeiro and Manny were basically condemned, they were the bad guys, this cheater all of the sudden puts on a puppy face and off he went..
Because Palmeiro did that whole finger waving thing at Congress and threw a team mate under the bus when he got busted.
If anything, MLB would want to make sure Braun’s suspension was up held so they could prove their policy was working. The game is bigger than any one player. So, if they were to sway the panel, it would have been against Braun.
Donal: Stop wasting your time. You’re talking to somebody who is ignorant and using race as an excuse or a crutch. If I was of the same ethnic background as the above, I’d be embarrased right now.
Roger Clemens is as “white” as they come and in terms of the biggest steroid scandals in the history of the sport, there’s Barry Bonds and there’s Roger Clemens. Both to my knowledge have no ties to the Dominican Republic for example.
People who wish to use race here are just ignoring anything and everything there is to the story and focusing on what they want to focus because they lack the intellectual capability of forming a logical opinion.
It’s not in MLB’s best interest to have Braun get off on this. So how can they be rac-ist when this entire scenario is a black eye against their own system. What good does it do? None.
That’s why even discussing race is as idiotic and ignorant as the person who brought it up.
The people that have received the most scrutiny is McGuire and Bonds. Your argument is not valid. Also most fans don’t think of AROD as a Latin American, they think of him as a American. It’s about false accomplishments and high salaries that fuel the outrage, nothing more. We want clean HR records, that’s the outrage. Not Race.
Because MLB broke the chain of custody protocol. It’s there for a reason. MLB screwed up and the independant arbiter ruled that the protocol being broken leaves too much doubt. He wasn’t given a pass. MLB was overturned. Very big difference.
Because he has a great lawyer and found a technicality in the process. MLB is asking the same question this morning that you are asking and is actually thinking about appealing the decision.
“Major League Baseball considers the obligations of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program essential to the integrity of our game, our Clubs and all of the players who take the field. It has always been Major League Baseball’s position that no matter who tests positive, we will exhaust all avenues in pursuit of the appropriate discipline. We have been true to that position in every instance, because baseball fans deserve nothing less.
“As a part of our drug testing program, the Commissioner’s Office and the Players Association agreed to a neutral third party review for instances that are under dispute. While we have always respected that process, Major League Baseball vehemently disagrees with the decision rendered today by arbitrator Shyam Das.”
Does this sound like a group who WANTED Braun to not get suspended?
Think about OJ… you think he was NOT convicted because of his race? He was NOT convicted because he had great lawyers and the prosecution was full of idiots….
Think about Braun… you think he was NOT convicted because of his race. He was not convicted because he had great lawyers and MLB is full of idiots.
If the glove don’t fit, you must acquit!
So, I told myself “don’t chime in. keep it to yourself. you’re not going to help anything” etc etc.
I think I’m going to wish I stuck with that.
Anyway, here is what I’ve heard so far. Keep in mind, I’m certain some of if not all of this is wrong since it is still a lot of speculation but:
It wasn’t just Ryan Braun’s sample. Several players were also tested by that same lab tech that same Saturday.
The lab tech did not ensure the security of the samples. I’ve read 2 versions oft his. He left them at the FedEx office where they sat unrefrigerated for the weekend. The other version is he had all of the samples in his home on his desk. Either way, the samples were not kept cool and the paper work was apparently not properly taken care of.
This gives Braun 2 outs:
1) the samples in question were tainted
2) MLB can’t sufficiently prove the samples in question are in fact Braun’s. This seems to be the route Braun is going since he offered to take a DNA test to match up with the samples, but MLB declined.
Like I said, that is what I have heard. I could be wrong. I think the best thing we can do is wait until more information becomes available to know exactly what happened, if it ever comes.
Quite frankly, the fact that his whole issue is even available to us is a massive failure on MLB’s part.
‘Quite frankly, the fact that his whole issue is even available to us is a massive failure on MLB’s part.’
Someone correct me if I’m wrong but don’t the rules state that none of this is released to the public until a player is both found guilty of violating the drug policy AND suspended?
So should this not have been kept quiet until Braun’s appeal was decided one way or the other?
I could be understanding that incorrectly but there seems to be some question also as to how this as leaked to begin with.
Yes, the process is confidential until I think the suspension starts.
The whole refrigeration or non refrigeration part of this is really a non issue. Urine does not need to be refrigerated nor does the lack of refrigeration for one day or one week change the composition of it in any way. Blood on the other hand is a different matter entirely.
Maria: Per the MLB rules though, it must be kept that way. It’s in the written agreement. So once you brain 1 chain of custody, who’s to say you haven’t broken other chains of custody?
And again, why wouldn’t MLB allow Braun to provide a DNA sample to match against the test? He volunteered it.
The issue is MLB messed up. Braun may or may not have taken something, we’ll never know most likely to be honest. But you cannot state that the chain of custody must be followed, and then break it and say “well we didn’t REALLY need to follow that step anyway”
Read this on SI.com.
A separate source familiar with Braun’s sample said that his elevated testosterone ratio was not unusual when compared to athletes from other sports who have failed drug tests and served suspensions.
“Around the world, on Sundays or holidays, couriers don’t pick up and they don’t deliver,” said Travis Tygart, the CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), which drug tests American athletes in Olympic sports. “Some of the labs around the world are closed over the weekend, so they can’t even accept samples. And, importantly, they don’t need to because synthetic drugs don’t magically appear in urine because it took 48 hours versus 20 minutes to get to the laboratory.”
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/baseball/mlb/02/24/braun.wins.appeal/index.html#ixzz1nJHUlgAK
The article also said the seal on the sample was intact and unbroken with Ryan Braun’s signature on it.
The sample would have been taken no earlier than 5:00 pm on Saturday and probably included more than just one guy so what time would it have been reasonable for the guy who had it to get it to Fed Ex? Between collecting all these samples and driving through the traffic probably about 7:00 pm. All he could have done at that point is put it in a Fed Ex box and even if it had been delivered to the lab on Sunday, who would have been there to take it?
No one.
I’ve heard that he offered to give a DNA sample to prove the specimen wasn’t his, when MLB said OK he retracted the offer. If that’s true I just don’t see how he can proclaimed himself vindicated.
The race stuff above is ridiculous. There is a good percentage of Latin American players that have been caught, but it has to do with a lack of resources and education not race. Many of these players are desperately poor and are trying to find a future for their family. If this stuff is available and you have coaches that say if you take this your performance will get better, they will do it. It’s the same exact reason why many Latin American players change their name and find the fountain of youth and shave some years off their lifespan. Just ask the pitcher formally known as “Fausto Carmona”. Would he have gotten the same multi-million dollar contract if Cleveland knew he was 3 years older? Would he even of gotten a shot at the major’s?
Braun’s getting off on a technicality does little to help either the player or MLB in the court of public opinion because Braun’s llawyer presented no testimony as to how such delays could cause false readings. Unless the sample was received by the lab appearing having been opened and re-sealed (which the defense lawyer referred to as a possiblity but presented no evidence from the testing lab to back up such contention) the innunendo is inconsequential to the case.
We need to know why MLB refused to go along with Braun’s volunteering of a DNA sample. Is it that DNA could cause more confusion than clairity or give false readings in favor of the player? Is it that by the time the test was conducted Braun would have had enough time to have the drug cleared from his system. MLB needs to answer these questions and if the answers deal only with more technicalities than the results of scientific evidence they would be just as guilty in the use of a loophole used for it’s defense.
Or was it a ploy on the part of Braun’s lawyer, knowing MLB would not go along with it. If so, again why not?
There might be a way to find out – just let CNN or any other reputable news organization (not ESPN which has a vested interest in MLB) sort it out with a panel of experts discussing the scientific evidence on hand (which includes whether or not the lid had been unsealed) and not the legalities.
Also, was the collection procedure as stated in the agreement written in stone that it must be followed by the letter or
Nix that last sentence about the letter of the law – we already know the answer to that.
so basically, this is like getting off for a crime because a policeman frogot to read Miranda rights, or looked in a closet before a warrant was issued so evidence was thrown out?
Nothing that proves innocence (or even discredits guilt), simply a technical violation.
anyway, good for him to skate the suspension, but guaranteed he is considered guilty in the court of public opinion, and will always be considered a cheater now.
and goodbye HOF chances!
I don’t know. If he turns around as has another big season, that may go a little way towards vindicating him.
Original Mets Fan,
Thanks to the Sports Illustrated article you posted I am now convinced either MLB did not do it’s job defending itself from the innuendos made by Braun’s lawyer or that the arbitrator took it upon himself to interpret the meaning of the agreement. As stated in that article:
“The Joint Drug Agreement between the league and players’ association specifies, “Absent unusual circumstances, the specimens should be sent by FedEx to the Laboratory on the same day they are collected.”
The word used is “should” not “must” and the clause specifies “absent unusual circumstances” – and having taken the test on a Saturday, which is valid in terms of a player not given prior warning as to when he would be tested – is enough to where the arbitrator didn’t have to feel he had no choice due to the wording of the agreement. He could have easily adhered to the rules of the agreement and demand substantial circumstantial evidence to back-up their claims of possible tampering.
I invited jesseP to meet me face to face to talk baseball, but he like a little girl backed out and made up some lame excuse as to why he couldn’t come… yet he’s here being a bada**, calling me ignorant and calling me out saying whoever is from dominican republic should be embarrassed, it’s ok.. keep it up.. i will not say anything out of respect for Joe D, but you’re the biggest DB that this site has, seriously, you’re the biggest front runner and poser we have in this site, one day, i hope sooner than later joe D sees you from the fraud that you are..
Hahaha:
“i will not say anything out of respect for Joe D, but you’re the biggest DB that this site has”
When you see the word BUT, you always know whats coming next hahaha.
Alex instead of getting all riled up, maybe take the fact that everyone disagrees with you on this racism claim as a good thing. If others aren’t seeing it, maybe it’s not a factor and maybe you can rest a little better. Our country is so intertwined with racism and we as a country are very sensitive to these issues. None of us are seeing it, and that is a good thing.
Just finished watching the video espn has posted of Braun’s press conference. They posted about 13 minutes worth.
Braun is basically saying that the guy who took his sample back on Oct 1st tampered with his sample and not the other 2 players sample that he took that day. He said the guy had multiple locations to drop how the sample that day and didn’t do so and the guy delivered the sample the next day around 1:30 i believe rather than when they opened at 7:30.
He said there were things they found out about the collector that they didn’t like. What that is I don’t know or even if it has any effect on what happened now. I mean is he saying the guy has a criminal record?
He goes on to say that he asked scientists how easy would it be to tamper and they said if they are extremely motivated it would be easy. So the collector for a reason no one has yet to say was extremely motivated to tamper with his test? Why? Is he saying the guy got paid for it? Is it cause the guy is a Cubs fan?
I don’t know but I’ve seen players adamantly proclaim their innocence before like Clemens to name one and I think Braun’s people would best be served to move on from this and stop with the considering legal actions angle or risk this story blowing up in his face.
Hi Mr. North Jersey,
Sounds no different from any other player’s denial – shallow.
Did Braun mention anything about the sample being opened before it got into the hands? Otherwise, what proof can he provide to show it was tampered. Does refrigeration cause something? Does a two day wait alter the results?
I agree with you, his response probably re-inforced one’s belief he did something wrong than anything else and that’s something that will follow him the rest of of his playing days and beyond.
Probably did not help Jeff Bagwell’s chances of going into the Hall of Fame, either – not with the controversy now clouding the game once more.
He didn’t mention it being opened that I saw he in so many words insinuated it as a possibility. If he is innocent I can imagine his frustrations but his people have to know how MLB is littered with cries of innocence that later turned out not to be so. In my opinion he would probably be best served to put this to rest and move on.
My question is now that he publicly called into question the integrity of the man charged with his collection is that man still employed by MLB or has he been dismissed? Also will the man accused of not doing his job properly ever make a public statement about how he handled Braun’s sample?
If you have yet to watch it here is the link.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/spring2012/story/_/id/7611600/2012-spring-training-ryan-braun-milwaukee-brewers-says-test-system-failed
Hi MNJ,
And thanks for the video link.
After watching it through, I was understanding the points raised in Braun’s own defense – that he hadn’t gained a pound or increased he speed at all and that his tests prior to these were OK.
Will admit I was looking for things to pounce on like an amateur detective or armchair psychiatrist so what I also picked up was his not using the word “didn’t” when taking anything but rather than he “believes in his heart” that no substance had “entered” his body. That’s not like Rafael Palmero pointing directly at a House Committee and saying he did not take anything so the wording he used has me suspicious. Also, he said his level was three times higher than anything ever recorded for any athlete which, according to some sources, was not true.
Also, he talked about one urine specimen while two were taken. Were both taken and handed to the individual responsible for the collection at the same time? This I do not know but would like to find out.
Of course, he mentioned how the collection procedure not adhered to could be open to question, including keeping the sample refrigerated properly and documented. That is very important no doubt, but he did not touch upon any general conditions (i.e., temperature ranges, amount of time kept refrigerated or un-refrigerated, etc.) which could cause such a mis-reading due to unintentional but neglect nevertheless by the collector.
Instead he openly stated that being undocumented, there is the possibility that his specimen was tampered with (which is different from neglect). Again, he did not mention any possible circumstances in terms of neglectful medical conditions but rather intentional tampering, implying it could be done if somebody wanted to and the one individual who could do it was the collector.
Under those circumstances, I wonder if he has set himself open to a libel case by the one who collected the specimen – not by inferring neglect due to taking his or her time getting to a FedEx drop off station, keeping it refrigerated on his or her own instead of by FedEx or the testing company, etc. – but by inferring actual intent to tamper with the results. Am sure there are many lawyers who would gladly take that case on that individual’s behalf.
That’s why I think Braun did take those drugs – his defense is based on an deviation from the usual delivery process which he did not link to anything medical or scientific regarding test results.
[...] this happen? Well, apparently, the man in charge of safeguarding Mr. Braun’s urine kept it a little too long, choosing to store it in his freezer for 48 hours. I have no idea what it’s like to spend an [...]