Posted on 02/24/2012 1:44:59 AM PST by jellybean
National League MVP Ryan Braun's 50-game suspension was overturned Thursday by baseball arbitrator Shyam Das, the first time a baseball player successfully challenged a drug-related penalty in a grievance.
The decision was announced Thursday by the Major League Baseball Players Association, one day before the 28-year-old outfielder was due to report to spring training with the Milwaukee Brewers.
***snip***
During the hearing, Braun's side challenged the chain of custody from the time the urine sample was collected by Comprehensive Drug Testing Inc. to when it was sent, nearly 48 hours later, to a World Anti-Doping Agency-certified laboratory in Montreal, two people familiar with the case said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because what took place in the hearing is supposed to be confidential.
The sample was collected on Oct. 1, a Saturday and the day the Brewers opened the NL playoffs. The collector did not send the sample to the laboratory until Monday, thinking it would be more secure at home than at a Federal Express office during the weekend.
Baseball's drug agreement states that "absent unusual circumstances, the specimens should be sent by FedEx to the laboratory on the same day they are collected."
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Belling had a great observation the other day, let’s see how he performs this year, if he has as good a year or better, vindication....
Well let’s see how he does this year now that the focus is on him.
MLB should tighten up the chain of custody on these tests, but the players assoc will probably have some say.
Braun might seem like an All-American but take it to the bank, he cheated got caught and walked on a technicality
In this day and age the fellow who took it home could easily have been paid off, not saying he was, but he could have been. I wonder what his bank account records look like?
50 games? That’s like three football seasons. Or more if the Brewers don’t get into the Super Bowl playoffs!
Do you know how long the stuff normally stays in the system?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.