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The Milwaukee Brewers will know before the start of spring training whether all-star leftfielder Ryan Braun will be in their lineup on opening day.

People familiar with the history of the Major League Baseball drug testing program and arbitration process indicate the Brewers and Braun will not be kept guessing about his status until the team opens its spring camp Feb. 18 in Phoenix.

An arbitration hearing will take place this month to give Braun an opportunity to overturn a reported positive drug test in October for a banned substance that could result in a 50-game suspension. Delaying the verdict beyond a reasonable period would not be fair to either Braun or the Brewers, under the circumstances.

Because the drug testing program is confidential and news of Braun's positive test never should have leaked out, MLB will not announce when the arbitration hearing will be held. But, in past hearings, the player has been notified of the panel's decision within a week.

Thus, even if Braun's hearing is not held until the final week of January, the Brewers would know the verdict sometime in the first week of February. Even if suspended, Braun would be allowed to participate in spring training. A suspension would begin at the start of the season.

If Braun's attorney, David Cornwell, successfully pleads his case, MLB will make no announcement because the process is designed to be confidential. In that event, Braun or his representatives would have to reveal the outcome. If the panel rules against Braun, MLB would announce the suspension.

The arbitration hearing will be conducted before a three-man panel. There will be a representative from the Major League Baseball Players Association, presumably executive director Michael Weiner. There also will be a representative of the Commissioner's Office, presumably Rob Manfred, executive vice president for labor relations.

The third member of the panel, and the one who probably will cast the deciding vote, is independent arbitrator Shyam Das, who has been used on various cases by MLB for years. In such hearings, the panel is permitted to render its decision in advance of a written opinion to avoid a long wait.

Since the current drug program went into effect after the 2003 season, 12 players have requested arbitration hearings in attempts to overturn positive results without success. But, in brief comments made after ESPN reported the test result in early December, Braun vehemently proclaimed his innocence and said he couldn't wait to tell his side of the story.

Cornwell will do that for Braun at the hearing. Because the test result reportedly revealed a testosterone level at least three times higher than ever recorded, the veracity of the test itself is expected to be questioned.

Braun, who passed every previous drug test since becoming a professional player in 2005, requested an independent test in late October after being apprised of the positive result from a few weeks earlier. That test, though not administered by MLB, was clean, so it stands to reason that Cornwell will argue that so much additional testosterone would not have completely dissipated over that time frame.

The website TMZ reported that Braun's positive test resulted from medicine prescribed for a personal medical condition. That argument in itself would not necessarily overturn the positive test, however, because MLB has a "strict liability" policy, meaning players can be suspended for unknowingly taking a banned substance.

While no major-leaguer has averted a suspension in arbitration, former Brewers minor-leaguer Brendan Katin had a positive test overturned on appeal in 2007 while playing for Class AA Huntsville. Katin, too, tested positive for a high level of testosterone, though the protocol at that time was different from the current major-league program.

Braun is expected to attend the New York Baseball Writers Dinner on Jan. 21 to accept his 2011 National League most valuable player award. It is unlikely that Braun will say anything about his reported positive drug test during his acceptance speech.

One report indicated Braun would remain in New York after that award ceremony for his arbitration hearing, but it is not expected to be conducted at that particular time.

Brewers sign Conrad: FoxSports.com reported that the Brewers signed utility infielder Brooks Conrad to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training.

In 122 plate appearances with Atlanta last season, Conrad batted .223 with four home runs and 13 runs batted in. The switch-hitter, who will be 32 on Jan. 16, is primarily a backup at third base and second base.

In 376 career plate appearances, Conrad is a .229 hitter with 14 homers and 56 RBI. The Brewers need a backup at third base and second base after Jerry Hairston Jr. signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Craig Counsell was not re-signed for 2012.