Ryan Braun released a statement today apologizing for using a banned substance.
The Brewers ball player admitted that he took banned substances, “a cream and a lozenge,” in 2011 to recover from an injury. Braun said that it was a “huge mistake” and that he was sorry for damaging the game of baseball.
Braun was suspended 50 games after he tested positive for elevated testosterone in October 2011 but the suspension was overturned after an arbitrator ruled that the sample had been mishandled. The MLB continued to investigate and last month Braun accepted a 65 game suspension. Twelve other players were given 50 game suspensions and Alex Rodriguez is currently fighting a 211 game suspension.
THE APOLOGY
Ryan Braun apologized to his team, his fans, and to his friends and family for putting them through this ordeal. The MLB player said that none of his supporters knew the truth and that he was the only one who hid information from the MLB.
Braun writes : “Now that the initial MLB investigation is over, I want to apologize for my actions and provide a more specific account of what I did and why I deserved to be suspended. I have no one to blame but myself. I know that over the last year and a half I made some serious mistakes, both in the information I failed to share during my arbitration hearing and the comments I made to the press afterwards. I have disappointed the people closest to me — the ones who fought for me because they truly believed me all along. I kept the truth from everyone. For a long time, I was in denial and convinced myself that I had not done anything wrong.”
HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED… SORT OF
The Brewers player attempts to shed light on how he started using a banned substance but Braun fails to mention several key details. Where did he get the substance? What was the exact product? Did he know it was illegal at the time? Who gave him the PEDs?
Braun simply says that he used a product that “he shouldn’t have used” to aid his rehabilitation.
Braun writes: “Here is what happened. During the latter part of the 2011 season, I was dealing with a nagging injury and I turned to products for a short period of time that I shouldn’t have used. The products were a cream and a lozenge which I was told could help expedite my rehabilitation. It was a huge mistake for which I am deeply ashamed and I compounded the situation by not admitting my mistakes immediately.”
THE REGRET, THE LIES, AND THE PRESS CONFERENCE
Ryan Braun was only one of 14 players to be suspended by the MLB this year for using PEDs but his case has garnered extra attention because of the way he has handled the situation. Braun strongly insisted that he never used PEDs. His language was so strong that some sports sites have mocked the press conference by creating Top Ten Lies Told By Ryan Braun lists .
In his statement today, Braun apologized for the things that he said (like “this is all B.S. I am completely innocent.”) back in February.
Braun writes: “I deeply regret many of the things I said at the press conference after the arbitrator’s decision in February 2012. At that time, I still didn’t want to believe that I had used a banned substance. I think a combination of feeling self-righteous and having a lot of unjustified anger led me to react the way I did. I felt wronged and attacked, but looking back now, I was the one who was wrong. I am beyond embarrassed that I said what I thought I needed to say to defend my clouded vision of reality. I am just starting the process of trying to understand why I responded the way I did, which I continue to regret. There is no excuse for any of this.”
MOVING ON
Ryan Braun will serve his suspension and when that’s over he’ll return to the field with a scarlet “PED” written across his chest. Will Brewers fans welcome him back with open arms? Braun said that he has to work “very, very hard” in order to win back people’s trust.
Braun said: “I support baseball’s Joint Drug Treatment and Prevention Program and the importance of cleaning up the game. What I did goes against everything I have always valued- achieving through hard work and dedication, and being honest both on and off the field. I also understand that I will now have to work very, very hard to begin to earn back people’s trust and support. I am dedicated to making amends and to earning back the trust of my teammates, the fans, the entire Brewers’ organization, my sponsors, advisors and from MLB. I am hopeful that I can earn back the trust from those who I have disappointed and those who are willing to give me the opportunity. I am deeply sorry for my actions, and I apologize to everyone who has been adversely affected by them.”