How Many NFL Players Have Been Suspended for PED Use?

How many NFL players have been suspended for PED use? The answer may surprise you.

Introduction

Since the start of the 2007 NFL season, 21 players have been suspended for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. The list includes some of the biggest names in the sport, such as former MVP quarterback Peyton Manning, four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Von Miller and five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Richard Seymour.

The most recent Suspension came down in December 2017, when Dallas Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain was banned for 10 games. McClain is eligible to return to the team’s active roster on October 14th, 2018.

While 21 players have been suspended since 2007, it’s worth noting that many more have been accused of PED use. In some cases, such as with Manning and Seymour, the accusations were never proven and the players were never suspended. In other cases, such as with Miller and McClain, the players admitted to using banned substances and accepted their suspensions.

PED Use in the NFL

Since 2007, there have been 72 NFL players suspended for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). That’s an average of more than six players per season. In 2016, there were 14 suspensions, the most in a single season since the policy was enacted. So, how many NFL players have been suspended for PED use?

History of PED use in the NFL

Since the NFL began testing for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in 1987, there have been over 100 players suspended for violating the league’s policy. The first major case involved Dallas Cowboys linebacker Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson, who tested positive for cocaine before Super Bowl XII in 1978. Henderson is considered one of the most infamous drug Cheaters in NFL history because his positive test not only resulted in a suspension, but also cost him his starting position on the Cowboys’ defense.

Despite the suspensions, PED use continued to be a problem in the NFL. In 1989, several high-profile players such as New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor and Miami Dolphins running back Sammie Smith tested positive for cocaine. Taylor was able to avoid a suspension, but Smith was not as lucky and was suspended for four games.

The NFL’s testing program began to catch more PED users in the early 2000s. In 2001, six players were suspended for violating the league’s drug policy, including St. Louis Rams linebacker Leonard Little, who was suspended eight games after testing positive for ephedrine. Little’s suspension was reduced to four games on appeal, but he still missed half of the season.

The following year, 2002, was even worse for PED violators as 11 players were suspended. Among them were Denver Broncos wide receiver Ed McCaffrey and New Orleans Saints defensive end Charles Grant, who were both banned four games for taking ephedra-based supplements. Additionally, Green Bay Packers lineman Kevin Williams and Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith were both suspended four games for violating the league’s steroid policy.

The most recent high-profile case involving an NFL player and PEDs occurred in 2007 when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Ricki Stanzi tested positive for human growth hormone (HGH). Stanzi was suspended four games and missed the entire season. He never played another game in the NFL.

As of 2018, there have been no new suspensions issued by the NFL related to PED use. However, this does not mean that PED use is no longer a problem in the league. In 2016, then-NFL quarterback Peyton Manning retired amid allegations that he had used HGH during his career

Recent PED use in the NFL

Since the start of the 2014 NFL season, 14 players have been suspended for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Most recently, in July 2016, Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the policy. Other notable suspensions have included Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing (10 games, 2017), Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller (six games, 2013), and free agent wide receiver Josh Gordon (indefinite, 2014).

While PED use is clearly still happening in the NFL, it’s worth noting that the number of suspensions each year has been declining since the league implemented more stringent testing procedures in 2014. Prior to that season, there were 21 suspensions for PED use. In 2015, there were 12 suspensions, and in 2016 there were just seven.

NFL Players Suspended for PED Use

The National Football League has seen a number of players suspended for the use of performance-enhancing drugs over the years. As of 2019, there have been 14 players suspended for PED use. The most recent player to be suspended was Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor, who was suspended for four games.

List of NFL players suspended for PED use

The following is a list of National Football League (NFL) players who have been suspended for performance-enhancing substances, beginning with the most recent. The NFL’s drug policy applies to all players, and violations that occur during the off-season and training camp are also subject to league discipline. A first offense for anabolic steroids and other PEDs results in a four-game suspension, while a second offense doubles the ban to eight games. A third offense is punishable by a minimum suspension of one year, while a fourth positive test leads to a ban of at least two years.

Since 2007, over 50 NFL players have been suspended for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. In 2016, there were 14 suspensions handed down, the most in a single season since 2008. The vast majority of those suspended have been linemen or linebackers, as those positions tend to use PEDs for bulking up rather than speed or agility enhancement. Among the most notable suspensions are those of linebacker Von Miller and offensive tackle Lane Johnson, both of whom tested positive for banned substances multiple times and were each suspended for four games as a result.

Reasons for suspension

There are a variety of reasons that can lead to an NFL player being suspended. The most common reason is violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, which has led to numerous suspensions over the years. Other reasons for suspension include personal conduct issues, substance abuse, and violating the league’s homelessness policy.

Violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances is by far the most common reason for suspension in the NFL. This policy prohibits the use of drugs that are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, as well as any other drug that is considered a performance-enhancer. Players who test positive for banned substances can be suspended for four games, eight games, or even an entire season depending on the circumstances.

Substance abuse is another common reason for suspension in the NFL. The league has a substance abuse policy that prohibits players from using drugs that are considered illegal by federal law. This includes drugs like marijuana, cocaine, and heroin. Players who violate this policy can be suspended for four games, eight games, or an entire season depending on the circumstances.

The personal conduct policy is another reason that players can be suspended by the NFL. This policy prohibits players from engaging in criminal activity or behavior that is considered detrimental to the league. Players who violate this policy can be suspended for four games, eight games, or an entire season depending on the circumstances.

Conclusion

Since the policy’s inception, 83 NFL players have been suspended for violating the PED policy. In the last five years, that number has decreased significantly, with only 12 players being suspended since 2014.