BREAKING NEWS: BRAUN HAS NOW BEEN SUSPENDED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE 2013 SEASON.
What a nightmare Ryan Braun’s life has become. It’s unbelievable what has happened recently to him and baseball. What do we make of it? Why isn’t his camp saying anything? And the latest rumor swirling is Braun failed the test due to medication his doctor prescribed for Herpes.
If that’s the first time you’ve heard the news, take a deep breath. Try not to laugh. It’s serious business.
Braun apparently failed the test during the playoffs last year and was notified a month before he was announced the MVP of the National League. His camp immediately appealed, which, by the rules, states the information shouldn’t be released until the case is resolved. No one has ever successfully appealed a failed performance enhancing test before in baseball. People were calling for him to come out and admit it.
ESPN’s “Outside The Lines” first reported and ran the story. The story also talks about how when Ryan first failed the test, he immediately requested a new test. His camp did the test and he passed it. ESPN was reporting that Braun was trying to use the second passed test to say that the first failed one was invalid.
Braun is now famous for his words when Alex Rodriguez had his steroid dilemma. He said things like “I would never take steroids,” praised by the commissioner, and then also said this:
“The best thing he can do is come out, admit to everything and be completely honest,” Braun said. “The situation will die a lot faster if he tells the whole truth.”
Ah. How those words seem appropriate now.
But that’s not what this is about, it’s about Braun’s new rumor. Apparently, he allegedly failed the test due to medication. Usually a steroid is given for those type of things. One site, TerezOwens.com, claim they talked to a Brewers official:
I have more inside information on the Ryan Braun ‘herpes rumor’ situation. I heard this yesterday from two guys who both work for the Brewers. According to them, “Braun will be let off because he tested positive for Herpes and the medication given to him by his doctor (legal to fight this) is what caused the spike. Braun and his lawyers plan to go after whoever leaked the story because of HIPAA laws. That is why Braun has not made a statement and that is also why in Mark’s statement he referenced it being a “personal issue.”
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It sounds as if the truth might come out soon. The only problem I see with this now coming out is two things:
- If this is, indeed, what made him fail the test, then why is it taking this long to verify it? Braun’s camp knows what drug it is. I believe there are scientists in this world who could give the results in days, if not hours.
- The second problem I have is Braun didn’t say anything to the doctors or officials before the test. Anyone who has taken a drug test in the past knows the first question they ask you is to disclose any medication that might change or effect the outcome of the test. If you do not say anything, and you fail, it’s still a failed test.
He will always have the failed test on his record, but perhaps he can rid the “steroids” tag from his name and start playing from day one of the season next year. The Brewers need him. Baseball needs him.
It’s a sad offseason for Braun. He will have to deal with this throughout the season. Fans will heckle him about it, opponents will use it to possibly get in his head, media will roll with it. First it’s steroids, now it’s Herpes. Which is it? The longer this takes to play out, the worse it will be. More and more rumors will come out that may not be true. For the sake of his reputation, and baseball, I encourage Ryan to follow his own advice:
The best thing he can do is come out, admit to everything and be completely honest. The situation will die a lot faster if he tells the whole truth.
