Ryan Braun Suspended By MLB For PED Use

Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun has been suspended for the duration of the 2013 season – sixty-five games – without pay, after admitting to using performance enhancing drugs and violating the Joint Drug Agreement.

“As I have acknowledged in the past, I am not perfect,” said Braun in a statement. “I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions. This situation has taken a toll on me and my entire family, and it is has been a distraction to my teammates and the Brewers organization.

I am very grateful for the support I have received from players, ownership and the fans in Milwaukee and around the country. Finally, I wish to apologize to anyone I may have disappointed – all of the baseball fans especially those in Milwaukee, the great Brewers organization, and my teammates. I am glad to have this matter behind me once and for all, and I cannot wait to get back to the game I love.”

Braun had been part of a Major League Baseball investigation into the South Florida anti-aging clinic Biogenesis after the outfielder tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone back in 2011. He appealed the suspension at the time but has since met with MLB investigators where he was shown their acquired evidence. Instead of appealing, he agreed to a negotiated suspension.

Under the JDA, first-time offenders get a fifty-game suspension, the second offense earns a one-hundred game sit-down and a third-timer gets a lifetime ban.

Braun was the National League MVP in 2011, is a five-time All Star, a five-time Silver Slugger Award winner, was the National League home run leader in 2012, a member of the 30-30 club in 2011 and 2013 and earned National League Rookie Of The Year honors in 2007.

Prior to that, Braun was a standout for the Miami Hurricanes baseball program under head coach Jim Morris. Braun was named National Freshman Of The Year and Freshman All-American by Baseball America in 2003, batting .364 with 76 RBI and 17 home runs.

As a junior Braun batted .396 for the season, with 18 home runs, a .726 slugging percentage, 76 RBI and had 23 stolen bases. He was ninth in slugging and tenth in RBI nationally and was named to Baseball American’s 2005 College All-America Team as the DH. Braun also earned ACC Baseball Player Of The Year, despite a move from shortstop to third base pre-season and was a Golden Spikes Award finalist.

Proof being, Braun always had the goods and didn’t need any shortcuts. Hopefully the suspension will be served, lesson learned and the Canes great can get back to playing the game he loves.

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