Chicago Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery was suspended by the NFL after testing positive for PEDs. Hours after the news broke, Jeffery responded with a statement on the matter, accepting responsibility for taking a supplement that contained a banned substance.
“As a professional athlete, I have been careful about what I put in my body. I took a recommended supplement to combat inflammation. Unfortunately this supplement contained an ingredient that was on the NFL’s banned substance list. I take full responsibility and I’m deeply upset with myself for not doing the proper research on this supplement. I want to apologize to my family, the Bears organization, my teammates, and Bears fans. I will work hard to earn back the respect and trust of the Bears nation and look forward to being back on the field.”
The suspension begins immediately. Jeffery will be able to return to the team on Monday, December 12.
Thus far in 2016, Jeffery has caught 40 passes for 630 yards and a touchdown.
For his career, spanning five seasons, Jeffery has missed significant time in two of his previous four seasons before this year. He has caught 292 passes for 4,358 yards and 25 touchdowns since being drafted out of South Carolina.
This development will prove costly to Jeffery, not only this year ($3.6 million lost) but probably next year as well as he becomes a free agent. Already a player who has been injury prone, the receiver will not likely land the kind of contract he could have before being suspended.