Braun Suspension Overturned

Braun's suspension overturned

NEW YORK (AP) -- National League MVP Ryan Braun's 50-game suspension was overturned Thursday by baseball arbitrator Shyam Das, the first time a baseball player successfully challenged a drug-related penalty in a grievance.

The decision was announced Thursday by the Major League Baseball Players Association, one day before the 28-year-old outfielder was due to report to spring training with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Braun tested positive in October for elevated testosterone, and ESPN revealed the positive test in December.

"I am very pleased and relieved by today's decision," Braun said in a statement. "It is the first step in restoring my good name and reputation. We were able to get through this because I am innocent and the truth is on our side.

"We provided complete cooperation throughout, despite the highly unusual circumstances. I have been an open book, willing to share details from every aspect of my life as part of this investigation, because I have nothing to hide. I have passed over 25 drug tests in my career, including at least three in the past year."

No reasoning was given for Thursday's decision.

"Today the arbitration panel announced its decision, by a 2-1 vote, to sustain Ryan Braun's grievance challenging his 50-game suspension by the commissioner's office," a statement from the players' association said.

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.

Manfred said management disagreed with the decision by Das. It is the first time a drug suspension has been overturned in a grievance, baseball officials said.

"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," 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."

Braun hit .312 with 33 homers and 111 RBIs last year and led Milwaukee to the NL championship series, where the Brewers lost to the eventual World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals. The Brewers are counting on his offense following the departure of Prince Fielder, who became a free agent and signed with the Detroit Tigers.

Braun already was signed through 2015 when the Brewers gave him a new deal running through 2020 that added $105 million and guaranteed him a total of $145.5 million over a decade.

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

 

no suspension
but nowhere does it say he didn't do it
imo, he's still guilty until we hear otherwise

 

of course it is
you think bud wants braun suspended?
no way

 

when a vote is meaningless (the outcome already predetermined) individual votes are meaningless
so the person who must vote or support something has the benefit of being on whatever side of the fence best suits him at that particular moment
for whatever reason, and PR is a heluva reason at this level
this has also leeched into how our government operates, that is why they are unable to speak the truth
they are conditioned to say, act, and live a lie so much for personal gain that eventually it no longer is a lie
its their life

bud selig has been forced to implement an anti doping system, he does not want to stop steroids but was forced to because of public relations
bud selig has been forced to hand the brewers to his daughter, he didnt want to do that but he was forced to because of conflict of interest
bud selig has been forced to call for brewer ryan brauns suspension, he didnt want to but he was forced to because of the anti doping system

is the picture becoming clearer or do we need to add some color?
there is always a little color involved in every picture

 

I'm down but more just to watch a game with you guys rather than yell at him ... if we're gonna yell at him i dont wanna tell him shit about mvp or possible roids or wtv but more about him having crazy eyes and ugly hair