newjerseynewsroom.com

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Major League Baseball’s drug policy states that a player who tests positive for a drug cannot just deny using a prohibited substance, but he has to have objective evidence to back up his denial. And baseball has never lost an arbitration case involving its drug testing.

Ryan Braun, the National League’s Most Valuable Player who led the Milwaukee Brewers to their first division title in almost 30 years, was notified of testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs about a month before he was named MVP.

According to ESPN, Major League Baseball asked the World Anti-Doping Agency lab, where they do their testing, to perform a secondary test to determine whether elevated levels of testosterone found in Braun’s body were natural or came from an artificial source. Testing indicated the testosterone came from outside the body.

Braun called the charges “B.S.,” according to Fox News. A spokesman for Braun said, "There are highly unusual circumstances surrounding this case which will support Ryan's complete innocence and demonstrate there was absolutely no intentional violation of the program.”

Braun’s defense team is preparing his appeal, and gathering evidence of everything he ingested days ahead of his test and before the start of the playoffs. The New York Times reports he has not been suspended due to the appeal, and may report to spring training not knowing the results of the case. But if the positive result stands, Braun is expected to receive a 50 game suspension, beginning at the start of the 2012 season.

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America said there was nothing in their bylaws allowing them to strip Braun of his award if tests are declared positive, but may make adjustments in the laws in the future.

Baseball has been plagued by drug-related incidents over the tears. According to the Blaze, Barry Bonds, the seven-time MVP is facing sentencing next week on an obstruction of justice conviction during drug distribution investigations, and Roger Clemens goes to trial in April on charges of lying to a congressional committee during another case.

Braun hit 33 home runs, with 111 RBIs and 33 stolen bases last season. He also just signed a five-year, $105 million contract extension.