Report: Medication caused Braun's positive test

Topics: Baseball

In this Oct. 2, 2011 photo, the Milwaukee Brewers' Ryan Braun celebrates after hitting a run home run during Game 2 of baseball's National League division series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

(Credit: AP)

The baseball world was shocked earlier this month when reigning National League MVP Ryan Braun tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance.

Now sources are telling TMZ that the test was not caused by PEDs but by a medication the slugger was taking for an undisclosed ailment.

"The medication contained banned substances resulting in the positive test," the source told TMZ, adding that Braun insists he has never taken any performance-enhancing drugs or steroids.

TMZ only identifies the unnamed sources as people "directly connected to Major League Baseball."

It is unclear why the player was taking the medication or whether he knew if the medication contained banned substances.

The Brewers star, who is appealing the result to an arbitrator, would face a 50-game suspension if the positive test is upheld.

Last week, baseball's union head says people should wait for all the facts before making conclusions about Braun. Players' association leader Michael Weiner said that the drug agreement is designed to protect a player from "a rush to judgment," adding that "fairness dictates that Ryan Braun be treated no differently."

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by betterusa December 20, 2011 8:57 AM EST

If I made $10 plus million per year playing baseball and the only job related concerns I had was not betting on baseball or taking banned substances, I would surely check with my doctor what I was putting in my body for an "undisclosed" ailment. It's amazing that these guys agents tell them what to say, when to say it and how to conduct their business and their lives but they have no idea when they are taking legal or illegal meds. Why doesn't Braun tell us what the ailment was and what he took? If he's innocent, it's no big deal, right?

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by timrw46 December 20, 2011 9:26 AM EST: Innocent until proven guilty. If that's the case, then why should Braun do anything to prove he is innocent?


by betterusa December 20, 2011 10:39 AM EST: timrw46: I never said or used the word Guilty. He sure as h*ll should prove he is innocent; he's about to face a 50-game suspension and public scrutiny. Are you using this same statement for Sandusky?

by rubberrezi December 20, 2011 8:42 AM EST

Another ******** issue that a STAR will get away with. If he wasn't the MVP he'd already be suspended.

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by No_Absolutes December 20, 2011 9:38 AM EST: "If he wasn't the MVP he'd already be suspended"...you couldn't be more wrong. The process for suspending a player based on a positive test for PED's is written into the collective bargaining agreement and baseball is following it to the letter. Educate yourself.


by baileyccc December 20, 2011 7:22 AM EST: Baseball drug testing is far behind other sports.; Reply to this comment


by petesis December 19, 2011 9:28 PM EST: The fact that the guy is the MVP of the National League might argue that he is pretty sound physically, and therefore not in need of supplemental testosterone. If you want to argue this guy had low "T", that would be a guilty verdict coming up because I doubt he was low to begin with.; Reply to this comment