National League Most Valuable Player Ryan Braun won his appeal of a suspension imposed after he allegedly failed a test for performance-enhancing drugs, the baseball players union announced Thursday.
The Milwaukee Brewers slugger, the first Jewish MVP in a half-century, became the first baseball player ever to successfully appeal a positive drug test.
“I am very pleased and relieved by today’s decision,” Braun said in a statement, ESPN reported. “It is the first step in restoring my good name and reputation. We were able to get through this because I am innocent and the truth is on our side.
“I have been an open book, willing to share details from every aspect of my life as part of this investigation, because I have nothing to hide,” added Braun, 28. “I have passed over 25 drug tests in my career, including at least three in the past year.”
Braun, who was named to the Forward 50 list of influential Jews for 2011, would have been suspended for 50 games.
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