Le’Veon Bell unloaded on the NFL last month over its drug testing program and said he is not going to submit to another test for the remainder of the season, and we are now going to find out just how serious the star running back is.
On Friday, Bell shared a photo of an HGH testing notice he received from the NFL. It stated that he must report to the drug testing room “immediately,” but Bell hinted on Twitter that he was not going to cooperate.
@NFL I bet I don’t pic.twitter.com/9Sqw1Ndza4
— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) December 27, 2019
No matter how he feels about the testing program, it would be a surprise if Bell refuses to cooperate. Failure to submit a sample to a collector is considered a positive drug test, which means Bell would be subject to a potential suspension.
Interestingly enough, Jets coach Adam Gase’s press conference was cut short on Friday after a fire alarm went off inside the team’s facility. It is unclear how that will impact Bell having to take his HGH test.
The NFL tests players for performance-enhancing drugs on a random basis, and they have had the legitimacy of the program questioned many times in the past. Carolina Panthers defensive back Eric Reid believed he was being targeted last year because of his role in national anthem protests, which led to both the NFL and NFL Players Association releasing a statement confirming there was evidence Reid’s name was randomly pulled from a computer program.
The Jets are out of the playoff hunt and there are questions about Bell’s future with the team, so perhaps he will take this opportunity to make a statement. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time he has voluntarily missed a regular season game.
