Patrick Peterson has been suspended for the first six games of the 2019 season for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy, it was announced Thursday, a significant blow to the Cardinals’ defense in Kliff Kingsbury’s first season as coach.
Peterson has never missed a game in his NFL career, playing – and starting – all 128 games in his eight seasons. He has 23 career interceptions as teams have shied away from throwing his direction for the last few seasons.
Peterson, talking at the VIP reception for his charity golf tournament being held Friday for the Patrick Peterson Foundation For Success, said he was “definitely sorry” for getting suspended.
“I’m deeply disappointed I am attached to something like this,” Peterson said. “But now I’ll put it behind me.”
Per the team’s official website:
“Patrick recognizes how disappointing this is for everyone in the organization as well as our fans,” the Cardinals said in a statement. “As we all do, he understands that regardless of intent he is ultimately responsible for everything he puts in his body. Our coaching staff and our players are now aware that we will have to play the first six games without Patrick and they understand they have to rise to the challenge that it presents.”
So what was the cause of the positive test?
Apparently it had everything to do with his diet, due to him having Type 2 Diabetes.
“Regardless of intent” seems to be a very key phrase. It appears that Peterson has provided an explanation that he was taking a drug for something unrelated to artificially enhancing his abilities and, because of that, is being busted for it. What that drug is and what it would have been for are unknown as of now, but there is the potential that it could be linked to his issues with Type 2 Diabetes.
That definitely sucks, but it’s every athlete’s responsibility to make sure what they’re putting in their body isn’t on the banned substance list.
Patrick Peterson's story, according to a source: Has Type 2 diabetes. Was feeling sluggish, like he did in 2015. Took something to help "pick him" up. Contained banned substance. Didn't know until it was too late. And here we go.
— Dan Bickley (@danbickley) May 16, 2019
This is the kind of due diligence that must be done when you’re a Professional athlete.
Now he’ll lose out on between $4-$6 million in pay because of the suspension.
Want More From Sports Gossip?
For all the latest breaking Sports Gossip, be sure to follow SportsGossip.com on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
