Brewers' Braun the first star to fall in latest drug probe

Ryan Braun is the first big name to fall in Major League Baseball's latest drug investigation.

The 2011 National League MVP was suspended without pay for the rest of the season and the postseason on Monday, marking the start of sanctions involving players reportedly tied to a Florida clinic accused of distributing performance-enhancing drugs.

The Milwaukee Brewers star accepted the 65-game ban, which is 15 games more than the one he avoided last year when an arbitrator overturned his positive test for elevated testosterone because the urine sample had been improperly handled.

"I am not perfect. I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions," he said in a statement.

Braun, injured Yankees star Alex Rodriguez and more than a dozen other players were targeted by MLB following a report by the Miami New Times in January that they had been connected with Biogenesis of America, a now-closed anti-aging clinic.

"For these guys still to be involved with this stuff just baffles me," Miami Marlins manager Mike Redmond said.

"The education's there and everybody knows what you can and can't take. It baffles me that this continues to be a black cloud over the game.

"I know Major League Baseball's done a great job of cleaning up the game and the testing policy and all that. And it's working. But at the same time, too, it seems like we'll go through a lull and then, bam, here comes another guy that gets suspended. It's got to stop."

MLB commissioner Bud Selig announced Braun's penalty, citing the outfielder for unspecified violations of both baseball's drug program and the labor contract.

Braun will miss the Brewers' final 65 games without pay, costing him about $3 million of his $8.5 million salary. With the Brewers in last place in the NL Central, they aren't likely to have any playoff games for him to miss.

"I wish to apologize to anyone I may have disappointed," Braun said. "I am glad to have this matter behind me once and for all, and I cannot wait to get back to the game I love."

Under the agreement reached by MLB and the players' association the specifics of Braun's admission were not made public.

A person familiar with the deal, speaking on condition of anonymity because no statements were authorized, said 50 games of the penalty were connected to Biogenesis.

The additional 15 games stemmed from Braun's actions during the grievance that overturned his positive test from October 2011.

"He's guilty. You don't accept a deal unless you're guilty," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "And it's disappointing. It's another black eye for our game. I know this game is very resilient, and there's been a lot of scandals over the years, but you get tired of it."

Union head Michael Weiner said last week that arbitration hearings for players contesting suspensions likely would not start until September, which would delay any penalty until next season. But he also indicated the union would urge players to make a deal and get a suspension over with if there was strong evidence of guilt.

"I am deeply gratified to see Ryan taking this bold step," Weiner said in a statement. "It vindicates the rights of all players under the joint drug program. It is good for the game that Ryan will return soon to continue his great work both on and off the field."

Braun's acceptance of the suspension marks a 180-degree turnaround from his defiant spring training news conference in Phoenix last year, after his 50-game ban was overturned.

"We won," he said then, "because the truth is on my side. The truth is always relevant, and at the end of the day, the truth prevailed."

The 29-year-old Braun was hitting .298 with nine homers and 38 RBIs this year, slowed by a thumb injury that limited him to one game between June 9 and Friday.

He was at Miller Park before Monday's game against San Diego and addressed the Brewers, then left without speaking to reporters.

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin spoke with Braun but wouldn't divulge details.

"I'm disappointed. He's a very important player to our organization and to the ballclub and to our performance on the field," Melvin said.

Braun met MLB investigators in late June. Baseball's probe was boosted when Anthony Bosch, who ran Biogenesis, agreed last month to cooperate with the sport's investigators.

(China Daily 07/24/2013 page22)