How many NFL players faced suspension for PEDs in 2023? Examining the violation in light of NFLPA statement

NFL’s competitive landscape hits the headlines for controversial incidents involving players leading to suspensions. The league has witnessed a remarkable uptick in players being suspended over the last year for violating the league’s policy on PEDs.

Estimating the number of players who will be suspended and the increase in such instances raises concerns for the league’s credibility. The specific reason varies as the 2023 season progresses, and NFLPA has released an official statement recently to point out a potential reason for the extensive amount of PED suspension in the last few months.

NFLPA release statement over meat consumption

In response to the increasing number of PED suspensions in recent months, the NFLPA has been working strictly to minimize the issue. Keeping that motive in mind, the authority is collaborating with experts in the field of nutrition and sports medicine to provide guidelines and resources to players

The NFLPA has recently released a crucial statement regarding a potential connection between meat consumption and PED suspensions within the league. The statement said there was evidence that meat produced in China and Mexico could be contaminated with “clenbuterol”. The league has banned this anabolic agent.

If players consume a large quantity of meat while visiting the aforementioned countries, they could actually end up resulting in a positive test. In recent years, many athletes have complained that they didn’t consume any banned substances. Now, the statement of the NFLPA justifies why the players are getting suspended for PED violations but aren’t actually on PEDs.

Listing PED suspensions in the NFL this year

In 2023, six NFL players faced suspensions for PED-related infractions, per Spotrac. The New Orleans Saints rookie signal-caller Jake Haener has been suspended for the first six games of the 2023 NFL season for violating the league’s policy on PED substances.

Ronald Jones II, a running back for the Dallas Cowboys who was attempting to fill in for Tony Pollard, had already served a two-game suspension without pay when the season began.

The Jacksonville Jaguars left tackle Cam Robinson was suspended by the league for the first four games of the regular season. His suspension was without pay, leading him to lose approximately $900,000 a game. The defensive end started the last season with a six-game suspension, and he once again got the same blow in May this year by getting suspended for 17 weeks. The DE faced a PED suspension by the NCAA during his stint at Oklahoma in 2016.

The Carolina Panthers safety Sean Chandler was suspended for the first two games of the 2023 season, and the Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Drew Dalman has also been on the suspension list. What’s your take on the recent PED suspension? Tell us in the comments.