It has been a long road to redemption for Milwaukee Brewers embattled outfielder Ryan Braun and while he's made his apologies and looks to distance himself from being implicated in the Biogenesis scandal and use of performance enhancing drugs, the questions about his 65-game PED ban followed him into his most recent interview, much like they likely will for the rest of the season, and possibly his career.
Braun, who vehemently denied taking PEDs in the past, went on an apologizing binge as a way to save his bruised character that came under fire when the outfielder was linked to the now-defunct Florida-based clinic, and he was once again forced to face questions about the ban in his first national news interview since the suspension.
The questions serve as a constant reminder to Braun about his wrongdoings and the specter of PED use will likely loom over him in visiting ballparks all across the country this coming season. Braun has taken the same approach throughout his statements since his suspension, saying he "made a mistake."
According to USA Today, the 2011 National League MVP wouldn't go into specifics about his actions that led to the suspension, but did offer some more apologies on Thursday.
"The best answer I can give you is that I made a mistake,'' said Braun, who is set to partake in his first spring workout Saturday, according to USA Today. "I've said multiple times that I wish I had the ability to go back, to change things, do things differently, but unfortunately I don't have that opportunity.''
The comments Thursday were vastly different from his news conference two years ago when he first tested positive for PEDs and called the MLB's drug testing policy "fatally flawed" while denying steroid use and questioning the urine sample collector after he tested positive for synthetic testosterone during the 2011 offseason but got off on an appeal.
Braun, a five-time All-Star, regretted how he handled the matter in 2011.
"I wish I hadn't done the press conference,'' Braun told USA Today. "I wish I had known then what I know now. If I had, I certainly wouldn't have done it at all. Different tone today than it was that day.''
Braun, 30, was drafted by the Brewers fifth overall in the 2005 draft and has a lifetime average of .312 with 211 homers and 861 RBIs.
Braun is switching from left field to right field this season, but he likely won't be able to escape the reputation of being steroid guy as it hangs over his career.
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