Ryan Braun fails PED test. Faces 50-game suspension.

Well there you go. There was one. I would hope MLB's procedures are more stringent than a Turkish lab's, but based on precedent it does appear that there is a 0.1 percent chance or so that Braun's claim is on the up-and-up. Slightly diminished perhaps by the fact that this is his third different story explaining the test.

 

Because it's just a short drive to Chicago.

 

Eighteen days into the 25-day appeal window for Braun ... crickets. No previous appeal has ever taken more than a week to render a suspension.

If MLB announces nothing in the next seven days, than the appeal was successful. There will be no MLB announcement because it's a confidential process (or should have been). Braun would have to announce a successful appeal himself.

I still think he's going to get suspended, but there must be at least some reasonable doubt at work here for a decision to take this long.

 

The only way he shouldn't be suspended is if MLB's lab fucked up the tests. And if that's the case Braun should sue them to the point that he could afford to play baseball for free for the rest of his life.

But if he tested positive because he took something he didn't know was a banned substance the suspension has to stand. They can't let him off the hook for two reasons:

1. It sets a horrible precedent that doesn't exist in any other sport with drug testing that we're aware of.

2. It gives the appearance MLB is catering to Bud's old team.

 

From Jon Heyman on Twitter:

"braun arbitrator wont be inhibited by usual 25-day limit. so decision not necessarily expected by sunday."


Why might this be taking so long? It sure seems as if there may be some interesting circumstances. Stay tuned.

 

Swimmer Jessica Hardy

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2011-04-28-jessica-hardy-london-olympics_N.htm

 

Sounds like she got a reduced punishment -- she missed the 2008 Olympics but was going to be suspended for 2012 also, the board reversed that part of it. Contaminated supply, unintentional, yada yada yada but she still did serve a suspension.

Someone posted the Taurasi case, which was a bad test.

Braun situation certainly weird.