The NFL announced a flurry of suspensions on Thursday afternoon, and the most surprising may have been the four-game ban San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates has received for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
In a statement on his Twitter account, Gates insisted he would never knowingly ingest a banned substance. He claims he tested positive after using what he thought were “substances and holistic medicines” to recover from injuries he suffered last season.
“In my 12 years in the NFL, I have taken tremendous pride in upholding the integrity of the NFL shield and all that it entails,” Gates wrote. “I have taken extreme care of my body with a holistic approach and I have never knowingly ingested a substance that was banned by the NFL.
“In an effort to recover from this past season, I used supplements and holistic medicines, and unfortunately, I have now learned that those substances always present a risk because they may contain banned substances even if the ingredient list doesn’t reflect them.”
Gates added that he takes full responsibility and should always know what he is putting into his own body. The eight-time Pro Bowler is, by all indications, a respected veteran across the league, so news of his suspension comes as a shock to many.
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain, New York Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, and Green Bay Packers defensive end Datone Jones were also suspended for violations.
Photo: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
