2011 NL MVP Ryan Braun Tests Positive for Performance-Enhancing Drugs, Appeals

For those who thought the era of performance-enhancing drugs in major league baseball was over, it appears you may have been a little too early with that judgment: this year's NL MVP, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder, Ryan Braun, has tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug, according to Mark Fainaru-Wada and T.J. Quinn of ESPN.com.

The report says Ryan Braun, who led the Brewers to their first division title in nearly 30 years, faces a 50-game suspension if the initial finding of a positive test for a PED (performance-enhancing drug) is upheld. Two sources "familiar with" the situation gave the information to "Outside the Lines."

Major League Baseball has not issued a statement on the test results because Braun has appealed the results, via arbitration. A spokesman for Braun confirmed the positive test results on Saturday and simultaneously issued a statement: "There are highly unusual circumstances surrounding this case which will support Ryan's complete innocence and demonstrate 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 he will ultimately be exonerated."

Braun himself issued a very simple statement of his own. According to the USA Today, Braun said the following of the test result: "It's B.S."

Braun, 28, was required to provide a urine sample for testing during the 2011 playoffs. In late October, he was notified of the positive test sometime. That was about a month before he was named the National League's 2011 MVP.

Sources said that the positive result was triggered by elevated levels of testosterone in Braun's system. That result triggered a second, more rigorous and comprehensive test. That result indicated not just the elevated levels of testosterone, but also that the testosterone was synthetic in nature.

Although Braun's representatives note that a second, non-positive test does not negate a positive one, a source close to Braun told ESPN that once the Brewer learned of the positive test, he immediately requested to be tested again, and that second test, using a different urine sample was not positive, according to the source. In that case, however, Braun's representatives had the sample tested by their own means.

Still, the second test results, Braun's camp says, shows certain "anomalies" that suggests problems with the first test, the one done by major league baseball. The Braun camp declined to go into detail on what those "anomalies" were.

In 2011, Ryan Braun led the National League in slugging percentage at .597, with a .332 batting average, 33 home runs, 111 runs batted in, 109 runs scored and 33 stolen bases. He was named the National League's MVP on Nov. 22, five days after turning 28.

Update: The words "not knowingly" are being bandied about in statements about the Ryan Braun test. It's being used as an excuse for the test, and as Johnathan Kincade said on ESPN on Sunday morning: "The 2011 excuse cannot be 'I made a mistake and I didn't know what was in it ... don't try it. Don't tell me that it was a mistake. I'm not buying it."

No major league baseball player has successfully appealed a positive PED test before.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

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