Ryan Braun Test’s Positive for P.E.D’s

10 December 2011

The baseball nation was shocked on Saturday by an ESPN report, announcing reigning NL MVP Ryan Braun had tested positive for a P.E.D (performance enhancing drug). The MLB has not issued a penalty for Braun, which would be a 50-game suspension to initiate the 2012 baseball season – due to the fact Braun has made the decision to appeal this ruling. One of Ryan Braun’s spokesperson had released a statement, later that Saturday, when the results came in, saying, "There are highly unusual circumstances surrounding this case which will support Ryan's complete innocence and demonstrate that there was absolutely no intentional violation of the program. While Ryan has impeccable character and no previous history, unfortunately, because of the process we have to maintain confidentiality and are not able to discuss it any further, but we are confident that he will ultimately be exonerated." The news of Braun's positive testing is arguably on of the most damaging P.E.D news in baseball, next to Manny Ramirez's suspension in 2009. Unfortunately this also takes place in a time when the game of baseball and the baseball nation was pleasurly enjoying a run of positive press, no more damaging news had been released and it seemed as if the “steroid age” was slowly disappearing. To speak the truth I myself would have never thought Braun would be using P.E.D’s. He seemed a young innocent player who was having a terrific year. He batted a great .332 with 33 home runs, 111 RBI’s and a .337 OBP (on base percentage). The 28-year-old Ryan to me, was a great player, and never seemed suspicious to me and I find this news shocking. Hopefully, these results are wrong, and order is restored in the game of baseball. Once again coming to you and on behalf of Baseballtalk101, Kevin Bond.