Ryan Braun sample collector says he followed protocol
RYAN BRAUN, right fielder
The 2011 NL MVP and Milwaukee slugger tested positive for synthetic testosterone in December 2011. On Feb. 23, 2012, Braun became the first MLB player to win his appeal when the 50-game suspension was overturned. In February 2013, Braun's name turned up in records from Biogenesis, a Miami-based anti-aging clinic alleged to have provided PEDs to athletes. Braun claimed his attorneys hired the head of the clinic to assist in his 2012 PED appeal and that a dispute over money led to his name being among the Biogenesis records. Braun was suspended on July 22, 2013 for the remainder of the season for violating MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. On Aug. 22, 2013, Braun admitted to using PEDs during his 2011 NL MVP season.
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The person who collected Ryan Braun's urine samples that tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone says he followed the collection program's protocol.
Dino Laurenzi Jr. issued a statement Tuesday confirming he handled the sample submitted following a playoff game on Oct. 1. He says he has been a collector for Comprehensive Drug Testing since 2005 and has taken more than 600 samples for Major League Baseball's drug-testing program.
Braun's 50-game suspension was overturned last week.
Laurenzi says he stored Braun's sample in his basement in accordance with drug-collecting procedure because there was "no FedEx office located within 50 miles of Miller Park that would ship packages that day or Sunday."
Braun, however, contends at least five FedEx locations within 5 miles were open until 9 p.m. and there also was a 24-hour location.
Laurenzi says protocol is to "safeguard" the samples at home until FedEx can ship the sample to the lab and that he didn't tamper with the package.
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