Milwaukee Brewers outfielder and reigning National League MVP, Ryan Braun won his appeal of a positive drug test and will not be serving a 50-game suspension. The day before Braun as scehduled to show up for Spring Training, MLB Vice President Rob Manfred released this statement:
“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.”
Braun, 28, is coming off a season when he led the NL with a .994 on-base plus slugging percentage while batting a career-best .332 with 33 home runs, 111 RBI and 33 steals.
– Kazeem Famuyide
