Ryan Braun won his appeal of his positive drug test on Thursday, and yesterday the Brewers outfielder and reigning National League MVP flatly denied ever using performance-enhancing drugs.
“We won because the truth is on my side,” Braun said during a press conference at Brewers’ camp in Maryvale, Ariz., a day after his 50-game suspension was overturned by an arbitrator. “The truth prevailed.”
Braun’s Oct. 1 test showed levels of testosterone three times higher than any previously tested. After learning of the positive result on Oct. 19, Braun talked to the MLB Players Association and assured them he hadn’t used any banned substances.
“If I had done this intentionally or unintentionally, I’d be the first one to step up and say I did it,” Braun said. “I truly believe in my heart and I would bet my life, that this substance never entered my body at any point.”
His appeal was upheld after an investigation discovered the protocol in MLB’s testing policy was not followed. Instead of bringing Braun’s urine test immediately to a FedEx store to be shipped to a lab in Montreal, the collector brought it to his home for 44 hours, believing the store was closed.
“We have no idea what happened to it in that 44-hour period,” Braun said. “I am a victim of a process that completely broke down. … We’re part of a process where you’re 100 percent guilty until proven innocent.”
Braun said he hoped something might be done to prevent a similar situation in the future.
“Today is about making sure this never happens to anybody else who plays this game,” Braun said. “The system in this case as it was applied to me was fatally flawed.”
Players Association Executive Director Michael Weiner said in a statement: “After discussions with the Commissioner’s Office, we are confident that all collections going forward will follow the parties’ agreed-upon rules.”
Braun added he is exploring legal options regarding the matter.
“There’s a lot of things that we learned about the collector, about the collection process, about the way the entire thing worked that made us very concerned and very suspicious about what could have actually happened,” said Braun, who refused to identify the collector.
Braun was also disappointed in the league’s reaction to Thursday’s decision. MLB executive vice president Rob Manfred said the league “vehemently disagrees” with the outcome.
“I certainly respect where they’re coming from, but I respectfully disagree,” Braun said. “I think it’s a little bit sad and disappointing that this has become a [public relations] battle.”
It’s one that hasn’t ended, as Braun pointed to the fact the Brewers measured no difference in his testosterone levels throughout last season. Though Braun said he was “exonerated,” he also knows the process of rebuilding his reputation will be a long one.
“I’m not dumb enough to pretend that this is going to go away,” Braun said. “A lot of people doubt me and will cont to doubt me. One of my biggest regrets about having gone through this situation is that I can’t ever get that time in my life back. … It should have been an enjoyable time in my life and it wasn’t.”