Ryan Braun, who tested positive for insanely high levels of testosterone in October, won his appeal and will not face a 50-game, performance-enhancing drug suspension. Braun is the first player in MLB history to have won his PED suspension appeal. Braun was faced with the news of his failed drug test immediately after he won the National League MVP for the 2011 season.

[Editor's Note: More news has been revealed about Braun's victory. He did not argue that his positive test was tampered with, but rather argued that protocol was not followed. ESPN sources say the collector of Braun's sample did not follow protocol by taking it to FedEx as soon as possible. The collector instead took the sample home and placed it in his refrigerator.]

Of course Braun and the Milwaukee Brewers are both huge winners because of this decision. Braun's reputation was at stake, as he would have been the first superstar in a while to have gotten busted for taking performance enhancing drugs. Instead, Braun remains "The Hebrew Hammer" rather than "The Jewish Juicer" and his hard play will still remain beloved in Milwaukee.

The Brewers, who last year lost to the eventual champion St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Championship series and who won the NL Central devision, also receive a huge boost as well. Already losing other big basher Prince Fielder to the Detroit Tigers, the Brewers could not have afforded to lose their other big bat for the first two months of the season. 

Braun will report to the Brewers' Spring Training camp on Friday and will be able to defend his MVP trophy without the drug rumors swirling around him. Thankfully for MLB, they don't have to worry about another superstar failing a drug test and there won't any cries of baseball reverting back to the "Steroid Era" that tarnished a whole time period in baseball.

While Braun has several accolades including NL MVP and NL Rookie of the Year, becoming the first baseball player to win his drug appeal and avoid a suspension is another very impressive accomplishment.

 

______________________________________

Reach Max by email, or follow him on Twitter.