Ray Lewis reportedly took banned substance while recovering from injury

The Baltimore Ravens could be dealing with a major distraction over the next several days leading up to the Super Bowl, as Ray Lewis is facing accusations that he took a banned substance during his recovery from a torn triceps muscle.

According to a report from Sports Illustrated, Lewis began working with a company called Sports With Alternatives to steroids (S.W.A.T.S) back in October after he suffered his triceps injury. Mitch Ross, one of the company’s owners, reportedly recorded a phone conversation with Lewis during which the two discussed treating the 17-year veteran’s elbow with deer-antler velvet extract. The extra contains IGF-1, which is on the NFL’s list of banned substances.

Ross prescribed a deluxe program, including holographic stickers on the right elbow; copious quantities of the powder additive; sleeping in front of a beam-ray light programmed with frequencies for tissue regeneration and pain relief; drinking negatively charged water; a 10-per-day regimen of the deer-antler pills that will ‘rebuild your brain via your small intestines'(and which Lewis said he hadn’t been taking, then swallowed four during the conversation); and spritzes of deer-antler velvet extract (the Ultimate Spray) every two hours.

‘Spray on my elbow every two hours?’ Lewis asked.

‘No,’ Ross said, ‘under your tongue’

Toward the end of the talk, Lewis asked Ross to ‘just pile me up and just send me everything you got, because I got to get back on this this week.'”

When speaking with the media on Monday, Lewis said he would not entertain such “stupidity” during his “moment” at the Super Bowl and that he has no intention of giving Ross any press by addressing the allegation. Ravens team officials say Lewis has not tested positive for any banned substance and that the NFL has not contacted the team regarding the matter.

This is not the first time we have heard about the healing powers of deer antler velvet, as former MLB player Adam Greenberg swore by it during his recovery after he was hit in the head with a pitch. As ESPN’s Mark Schlereth noted, the substance isn’t even one that the league is capable of testing for at the moment. In addition, Lewis is set to play the final game of his career in five days.

The accusation will not affect Lewis’ playing status for this weekend’s game, but it certainly could create a distraction for the team. Then again, he fielded questions about his involvement with a murder trial the last time Baltimore was in the Super Bowl and we know how that turned out.

Photo credit: Evan Habeeb-US PRESSWIRE