MLB denies that Ryan Braun is target of investigation

Scottsdale, Ariz. - Major League Baseball executive vice president Rob Manfred denied that MLB has targeted Milwaukee Brewers leftfielder Ryan Braun specifically in its investigation of the Biogenesis clinic in Miami, as suggested by a USA Today article.

"Everyone whose name has surfaced surrounding the Miami New Times story and Biogenesis is being investigated with equal vigor," Manfred said in a statement to the Journal Sentinel.

The USA Today article Wednesday labeled Braun as "MLB's Public Enemy No. 1" in its investigation of Biogenesis, an anti-aging clinic alleged to have sold performance-enhancing drugs to baseball players.

Braun's name was among many baseball players listed on the log books of clinic operator Tony Bosch. Braun explained that his defense team enlisted Bosch's services as a consultant in their appeal of a positive drug test for elevated testosterone levels in the winter of 2011-'12.

Monetary figures were posted in those logs next to Braun's name, which his attorneys said represented a dispute over fees owed to Bosch for his consulting. Lead attorney David Cornwell later said Bosch's input was not helpful in the successful appeal of Braun's positive test.

After Shyam Das ruled in Braun's favor on a chain-of-custody issue, MLB fired Das as its independent arbitrator. MLB's anger over that ruling fueled its pursuit of Braun, according to the USA Today article.

After that report surfaced by the Miami New Times, Braun met with reporters and said he would take no questions about the Biogenesis connection but said he would cooperate fully with MLB's investigation. A major-league source said all players listed in the logbook would be interviewed.

MLB suspended minor-league pitcher Cesar Carrillo for 100 games - 50 for having his name in the Biogenesis logs and 50 for refusing to cooperate with the investigation. Carrillo, a former teammate of Braun's at the University of Miami, was not on a major-league 40-man roster and therefore not protected by the union from sanctions.

Major leaguers who don't cooperate could be subject to punishment, which likely would be appealed by the players union. The Miami New Times refused to turn over its Biogenesis documents to MLB, which does not have subpoena power.

In the USA Today article, which said MLB wants Braun "badly," he said, "I'm extremely confident and secure in who I am, and how I live my life. I will never allow anyone or anything to get me down or change that.

"I've always tried to do everything right in life and I'm proud of what I've accomplished. You get to the point where you almost don't care what people think. But anybody that knows me and who has ever known me knows who I am. They know the way I live my life. They know I'm a good person."

Approached Wednesday morning in the Brewers' spring camp about the USA Today article, Braun said, "Anything I have to say about that I've already said."


(jsonline.com)