Amidst Major League Baseball’s on-going and public fight against performance enhancing drugs, the NFL has suspended one of their own for the violating their banned substance policy. Washington Redskins defensive end Jarvis Jenkins will be suspended 4 games for the violation, according to NFL.com.
The Redskins will miss Jenkins, who Coach Mike Shanahan was counting on to be a key part of their defense this season. The team is also without their backup DE Adam Carriker who will be out for the next four to five months with a quad injury.
Jenkins said through a statement he was “shocked and confused” by the league’s decision.
"It's an obscure substance that I've never even heard of, and I still don't know how it got into my body," the 25-year old said. "My only guess is that it came from one of the supplements I was taking around the time of the test, even though none of them listed anything banned."
Jenkins will be able to return to action on Sept. 29 when the Redskins play the Oakland Raiders.
According to Jenkins, the prohibited substance was found in a shake he purchased from GNC. The league labels the substance as something that could act as a masking agent.
The NFL Players Association recently said the league plans to begin testing players for performance enhancing drugs, namely HGH (human growth hormones), accoriding to USA TODAY Sports.
The NFLPA informed its members that during training camp, players would have to submit a blood sample. There was no indication that any punishments would be issued for positive tests. The association said it wanted the tests to create a population study. This would help them figure out the “normal” amount of HGH in a player.
While some don’t mind the test, others believe it is just a way for the association to stall.
Many are praising the steps the MLB has taken to rid its league of P.E.Ds and are waiting for other leagues—like the N.F.L.—to do the same.
The Redskins will play the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1 on Sept. 9.
