To all of those who rushed to the premature idea that Ryan Braun took a banned substance, shame on you.
There are two main culprits to blame in this unprecedented incident: the handler of Braun’s urine sample and the person who leaked the results to ESPN.
Today, Braun went through extraordinary lengths explaining how the process works and where it broke down. The identified flaw in this incident was the handler who waited a full 44 hours until he dropped Braun’s sample off at FedEX, the official courier of all MLB test samples. Not only that, bUt the handler admitted keeping the sample in his refrigerator over the weekend.
Once the sample is placed in the cup, it is identified by a number in order to keep the identity of the donor anonymous. Only two people in the entire process know whose sample it is, the player himself and the handler. After the sample is numbered, the handler is to take it to FedEX as soon as possible so as to protect the integrity of the test.
So why did it take 44 hours from Saturday evening at 5pm until Monday afternoon at 1PM to deliver the sample? What occurred during that time gap? The handler AND MLB need to provide answers.
Just as important is who leaked the test results to the reporter for ESPN, which hastily and irresponsibly put the story on-air. Revealing any kind of medical results is a violation of HPPA laws and the one who leaked this should be found and prosecuted.
As for MLB, instead of recognizing that a grievous mistake was made, it threw Braun under the bus by not admitting that despite the stringent testing protocol something like this could happen.
When the results were reported, Braun submitted every one of his weekly weigh-ins and regular strength tests, which indicated nothing that may have caused an alarm. He did not gain weight or add more speed. There was no dramatic change in his physical appearance.
Yet he was considered guilty until proven innocent. This is a result of not only the way the process is set-up, but the automatic presumption based upon the original group of cheaters – Clemens, Palmiero, Sosa, McGwire and especially Barry Bonds – who lied to try to claim their innocence. This set the tone for all who have been accused since.
There will be some who even in the face of all this evidence will think that Braun got away with something. I pity them.
I railed against ESPN in my last post. As Braun stated during his remarks,
“There were a lot of times I wanted to come out and tell the whole story, attack everybody as I’ve been attacked, as my name has been dragged through the mud, as everything I’ve ever worked for my entire life has been called into question. … I could have never, ever envisioned being in this position today, discussing this subject with you guys.”
Thank ESPN for that. Ruining one’s reputation is the new standard of reporting for this farcical network.
Ask Ryan Braun how he gets his good name back, for no matter what happens from here on out, there will always be this stigma.
I could gloat and say I told you so, but this whole sleazy episode is too pathetic for even that.
Going Yard 