Answering key questions in wake of Ryan Braun suspension

A: You have to go back to the 2007 Mitchell Report, of which one of the recommendations was the establishment of a Department of Investigations. Drug testing

Tom Verducci | Jul 23, 2013

Answering key questions in wake of Ryan Braun suspension /

Former NL MVP Ryan Braun won't wear a Brewers uniform again until next season. — Former NL MVP Ryan Braun won't wear a Brewers uniform again until next season / AP

Alex Rodriguez faces an even longer ban than the 65 games Ryan Braun got. — Alex Rodriguez faces an even longer ban than the 65 games Ryan Braun got / Reuters

A: You have to go back to the 2007 Mitchell Report, of which one of the recommendations was the establishment of a Department of Investigations. Drug testing isn't enough to deter the cheats, who will continue to work with chemists to devise work-arounds to the latest tests to stay one step ahead. The tests must be supplemented by people dedicated to enforcing the JDP. You now see the importance of such enforcement. A former MVP and the face of a franchise was thrown out of baseball for 65 games -- without a fight and without a positive test. And the players association was right there, cheering him out the door for doing the right thing.

Published Jul 23, 2013

TOM VERDUCCI

Tom Verducci is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated who has covered Major League Baseball since 1981. He also serves as an analyst for FOX Sports and the MLB Network; is a New York Times best-selling author; and cohosts The Book of Joe podcast with Joe Maddon. A five-time Emmy Award winner across three categories (studio analyst, reporter, short form writing) and nominated in a fourth (game analyst), he is a three-time National Sportswriter of the Year winner, two-time National Magazine Award finalist, and a Penn State Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient. Verducci is a member of the National Sports Media Hall of Fame, Baseball Writers Association of America (including past New York chapter chairman) and a Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 1993. He also is the only writer to be a game analyst for World Series telecasts. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, with whom he has two children.