HIV and ID Observations

Big news in baseball land is that superstar Ryan Braun has been suspended for the rest of the season for using performance enhancing drugs (PEDs).

And why is this information in an Infectious Diseases blog? Three main reasons:

1. When Braun first got nabbed for PEDs in 2011, it was widely rumored it had something to do with treatment for herpes. Not surprisingly, I was confused about this, but reasoned that maybe — just maybe — it was due to an interaction between acyclovir and endogenous testosterone production. Pretty weak, I know.
2. Braun then got the suspension dropped because the urine specimen wasn’t handled properly.  In hindsight, Braun made some astounding comments after getting off, but no mention whatsoever of acyclovir.
3. I will use any excuse imaginable to write about baseball.

Admittedly, the last one is probably the biggest factor here.

Ah, for a simpler, more innocent (!?) era …