Suspensions Coming?

[Brian in Mesa]

Suspensions Coming?

Sources tell "Outside The Lines" that Ryan Braun refused to cooperate with MLB's Biogenesis case, and suspensions loom for him, Alex Rodriguez and others.

Ryan Braun didn't answer questions

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_...r-mlb-questions-biogenesis-clinic-sources-say

Milwaukee Brewers star Ryan Braun, who has repeatedly denied using performance-enhancing drugs, refused to answer questions during a recent meeting with Major League Baseball about his connection to Tony Bosch and the Biogenesis clinic in Miami, sources told "Outside the Lines."

The meeting took place June 29, a source said, and is one of several that MLB has conducted with players connected to the clinic. A source said New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has not been interviewed, but a meeting is expected to take place within the week.

Commissioner Bud Selig's office is expected to suspend Braun and Rodriguez, along with as many as 20 players sometime after next week's All-Star break, for their roles in the Biogenesis case, several sources told "Outside the Lines." As OTL reported, MLB started building cases against the players last month after Bosch agreed to cooperate with investigators.

The question is the length of the suspensions.

Sources said the commissioner's office was considering 100-game bans for Braun and Rodriguez, the punishment for a second offense, even though neither player was previously suspended for violating MLB's drug policy.

 

[Dback Jon]

Good.

strip him of his MVP award. Hate that cheating ass.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Lets hope... Hearing its already been decided but typical MLB, they will wait after the Allstar game to announce...

 

[thirty-two]

Good!

 

[ajcardfan]

I wish Braun could be suspended for a year. He deserves it after beating his last one on a technicality and then acting like an insufferable ass about it.

 

[TJ]

Lets hope... Hearing its already been decided but typical MLB, they will wait after the Allstar game to announce...

I'm hearing it's decided that they are going to hand out 100 game suspensions to Braun and A-Rod, even though they have never served a suspension for PEDs in the past. The first time offenders get 50 games.

Baseball is going to have a hard time passing this by the MLBPA. First, jumping to 100 games without a previous formal suspension will most certainly be challenged by the union. Second, the information that Selig is using is from a sleaze ball doctor in Miami with no credibility.

This is hilarious because the MLBPA recently indicated that it "truly wants PEDs out of the game," yet, they are going to fight for these players tooth and nail.

 

[Gaddabout]

This is hilarious because the MLBPA recently indicated that it "truly wants PEDs out of the game," yet, they are going to fight for these players tooth and nail.

Fiduciary duty: An individual in whom another has placed the utmost trust and confidence to manage and protect property or money. The relationship wherein one person has an obligation to act for another's benefit.

http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/fiduciary+duty

They have to, because that is their job. Any collaboration with MLB that might violate the trust of a member player could put them in a very actionable position.

 

[az240zz]

Why wait until after the All Star game. Have some guts and do it NOW.

 

[Russ Smith]

I'm hearing it's decided that they are going to hand out 100 game suspensions to Braun and A-Rod, even though they have never served a suspension for PEDs in the past. The first time offenders get 50 games.

Baseball is going to have a hard time passing this by the MLBPA. First, jumping to 100 games without a previous formal suspension will most certainly be challenged by the union. Second, the information that Selig is using is from a sleaze ball doctor in Miami with no credibility.

This is hilarious because the MLBPA recently indicated that it "truly wants PEDs out of the game," yet, they are going to fight for these players tooth and nail.

They pretty much have to because it's their jobs but yeah it is ironic.

I never believed Braun the first time around so I certainly don't believe him now.

Generally speaking athletes who are closely connected to people who dispense PED's, are on PED's themselves. This is why I never understood how anybody could believe Lance Armstrong once it came out he was connected to Michele Ferrari a known doping doctor.

Guys like Braun don't meet people like this in casual settings, they meet them because they're trying to get on something that won't get caught in testing.

 

[Gee!]

Fiduciary duty: An individual in whom another has placed the utmost trust and confidence to manage and protect property or money. The relationship wherein one person has an obligation to act for another's benefit.

http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/fiduciary+duty

They have to, because that is their job. Any collaboration with MLB that might violate the trust of a member player could put them in a very actionable position.

But if they continually keep getting these guys off, it will ruin the game and future players salaries will be at risk.. Or are they only worried about the players in the here and now?

 

[MigratingOsprey]

Could be interesting how it shakes out ... I think they may have a difficult time going the 100 game route though - mainly because like most things it's fairly gray in the agreement/program and that gray area will typically go to the party that is being impacted leaving the league to revise the policy for future use

http://mlb.mlb.com/pa/pdf/jda.pdf

It sounds like the league is saying the implication is 1 offense and the failure to cooperate is another.

However, the policy states that a player shall not be subjected to multiple disciplines as a result of the same use of a prohibited substance. The way this reads it's more you fail a test for a substance on 7/1 and then are tested again 7/15 and the same substance is still in your bloodstream. They have protocols to determine if it's the same violation, etc built into the process. Still doesn't necessarily impact that a player shall not be subjected to multiple disciplines as a result of the same use of a prohibited substance.

As for the actual violations - this is dealing with performance enhancing drugs which is different than the drug abuse or marijuana/thc designations.

If a player is convicted or pleads no contest to possession or use of a PED the 1st offense is 60-80 games .... if the same happens for distribution it jumps to 80-100 games .... doesn't sound like that will happen here

Section 2 of the agreement is the broad language that PEDs are prohibited .... then there is a breakdown of what they are and the specific violation & penalty schedule .... there is then a catch-all that states a player may be subject to disciplinary action for just cause by the Commisioners office for any violation of Section 2 - this is what they are building towards

The just cause that there is a violation without an actual failed test .... I see this as being the violation the league is going after. However, I don't think any of the violations about failing to cooperate with testing or complying with the treatment program, etc would apply.

I really only see the 1 violation in there and think 50 games is the max they can do - regardless of how spiteful they may feel

 

[ajcardfan]

Another interesting case will be Bartolo Colon. He was suspended 50 games last season, almost certainly for stuff he did with Biogenesis. Will he get suspended again on the grounds he didn't say where he got it from? (If that is the case?)

 

[PDXChris]

Another interesting case will be Bartolo Colon. He was suspended 50 games last season, almost certainly for stuff he did with Biogenesis. Will he get suspended again on the grounds he didn't say where he got it from? (If that is the case?)

I was wondering the same exact thing.

 

[Russ Smith]

Another interesting case will be Bartolo Colon. He was suspended 50 games last season, almost certainly for stuff he did with Biogenesis. Will he get suspended again on the grounds he didn't say where he got it from? (If that is the case?)

Side note but what sort of miracle drug is this stuff that it can help a fat out of shape guy like Colon?

I remember laughing when he got suspended last year thinking that fat guy is on PED's?