Washington Redskins defensive end Jarvis Jenkins has been suspended for four games without pay for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Jenkins released a statement Friday saying he was “shocked and confused” to learn that he had tested positive for a banned substance.
Said Jenkins: “It’s an obscure substance that I’ve never even heard of, and I still don’t know how it got into my body. My only guess is that it came from one of the supplements I was taking around the time of the test, even though none of them listed anything banned.”
Jarvis Jenkins remains eligible to practice at training camp and play in preseason games. He was on the field working with the first-string unit during Friday’s practice when the suspension was announced.
It was a simple mistake,” he said, “but I’m accepting my responsibilities like a man.”
Jenkins said he takes pre-workout and recovery supplements. Every NFL player has been instructed not to take supplements that don’t have an “NSF” label — a label that means they’ve been certified as acceptable under an agreement between the league and players’ union in the last CBA— but Jenkins said he nevertheless took an over-the-counter supplement that didn’t have the label.
Jenkins said he checked the ingredients of the supplement, but he learned that’s not a fail-safe method. In March, he was informed that he had tested positive for a substance women take for breast cancer and that has also been used by athletes in connection with steroids.
He appealed the suspension, but the league ruled against him.
“I thought I was going to get off on it, and I didn’t,” he said. “The NFL has strict rules…They tell us we’re responsible for what’s in our body. Obviously I’m being led as an example.”
Jenkins’ was expected to backup Adam Carriker, but Carriker had a third surgery Thursday for a right knee injury and is unlikely to play this season. Chris Baker, who has been moved from nose tackle, and Kedric Golston are the leading candidates to start while Jenkins is away.
Jenkins is allowed to practice during training camp and can play in preseason games.
