UPDATED: A large semi-circle of media formed around Ryan Braun's locker following the Milwaukee Brewers' 4-3 extra innings victory Tuesday night, and the 2011 National League MVP could only smile as he walked up close to the cameras and microphones.
"A lot of people here. I assume I know why everybody's here," he said. "I've already addressed everything related to the Miami situation. I addressed it in spring training. I will not make any further statements about it.
"The truth has not changed."
Braun said Brewers staff informed him postgame of an ESPN report that said Major League Baseball is looking to punish over a dozen players for their connection to the Biogenesis lab in Miami, including Braun.
Braun said he did not know the specifics of the story, but added:
"I've already addressed it, I've already commented on it and I'll say nothing further about it. I hope you guys can respect that, as I said in Spring Training, thanks."
In that report, ESPN.com said "Major League Baseball will seek to suspend about 20 players connected to the Miami-area clinic at the heart of an ongoing performance-enhancing drug scandal, including Alex Rodriguez and Braun, possibly within the next few weeks."
In 2012 Braun was suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball for violating the league's performance enhancing drug policy, but that suspension was overturned on appeal.
"I've dealt with this for two years," he said. "I've dealt with it, off and on, for the last year and a half I guess. I think I'm pretty good at avoiding distractions."
On Wednesday, the Major League Baseball Players Association Executive Director Michael Weiner issued a statement about the ESPN report.
"The Players Association has been in regular contact with the Commissioner’s Office regarding the Biogenesis investigation," the statement said. "They are in the process of interviewing players and every player has been or will be represented by an attorney from the Players Association. The Commissioner’s Office has assured us that no decisions regarding discipline have been made or will be made until those interviews are completed. It would be unfortunate if anyone prejudged those investigations.
"The Players Association has every interest in both defending the rights of players and in defending the integrity of our joint program. We trust that the Commissioner’s Office shares these interests."
Later on Wednesday, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Director General David Howman weighed in as well.
It's statement said "WADA commends the decision of Major League Baseball (MLB) to seek suspension of an estimated 20 players associated with a performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) scandal involving a Miami-area clinic.
"More and more, information and evidence gathered in the investigative process is proving an effective means of uncovering doping in sport. MLB has approached this issue in a professional way and the evidence gathered will undoubtedly be pivotal.
"MLB has become a valuable partner to WADA in the fight against doping in sport notably as a contributor to the Agency’s protocols for information sharing, and has developed a robust program over recent seasons that many team sports might usefully replicate."
