Friday, October 11, 2013

Winslow doesn't know source of positive PED test

BY NICK ST. DENIS

In a league supposedly riddled with HGH use, the powers that be occasionally put on the facade that they're actually regulating the use of performance-enhancing drugs by randomly testing and randomly suspending a random player for a random substance in their random urine.

New York Jets tight end Kellen Winslow was the latest random subject.

Winslow was handed a four-game suspension Friday for violating the NFL's banned-substance policy.

The veteran tight end has no track record in this particular department but has been recovering from a nagging knee injury. It's all speculation at this point, but Winslow claims he has no idea where the positive test result stems from.

“It came as a huge surprise to me when I learned that I tested positive for a banned substance," Winslow said in a statement, via NewYorkJets.com. "I have investigated all possible sources since learning of the positive test, including possible medical causes, but frustratingly, I do not know the source. I do not take supplements that list any banned ingredients, but the NFL policy is very strict, so I am accountable for the results.

"I sincerely apologize to my teammates, coaches and Jets fans for this situation. I will work extremely hard during this time away from the field and look forward to contributing to the team as soon as the suspension ends."

The Jets will lean on Jeff Cumberland, who, like Winslow, caught a touchdown last Monday in a win over the Atlanta Falcons, to pick up the slack. Winslow is currently the Jets' leading receiver.

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