Wes Welker says NFL drug policy is ‘clearly flawed’
By Josh Sanchez
On Wednesday afternoon, news surfaced that Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker was suspended for the first four games of the NFL regular season for violating the league’s performance-enhancing policy for amphetamine use.
More from Denver Broncos
- NFL Power Rankings: Who is the best quarterback in each division?
- Future fires unmistakable NSFW shot at Russell Wilson in new song
- Russell Wilson gets key update on important weapon
- NFL Rumors: D-Hop’s top offers, Cowboys secret sauce, and Russ catches a break
- NFL Power Rankings: Which teams will have the best rushing attacks this season?
Everyone was surprised to learn of the report, and Welker responded to the news with an email to Mike Klis of the Denver Post.
Not only did Welker say that he was also surprised to learn of his suspension, but he sounded off on the league’s drug policy which he calls “clearly flawed.”
"“I’m as shocked as everyone at todays news,” Welker said in an e-mail to The Denver Post. “I want to make one thing abundantly clear: I would NEVER knowingly take a substance to gain a competitive advantage in any way. Anyone who has ever played a down with me, lifted a weight with me, even eaten a meal with me, knows that I focus purely on what I put in my body and on the hard work I put in year round to perform at the highest levels year-in and year-out.“I want any youth football players and all sports fans to know, there are NO shortcuts to success, and nothing but hard work and studying, leads to success.“I have never been concerned with the leagues performance enhancing or drug abuse policies because under no scenario would they ever apply to me, but I now know, that (drug-policy procedures) are clearly flawed, and I will do everything in my power to ensure they are corrected, so other individuals and teams aren’t negatively affected so rashly like this."
Rumors have claimed that Welker tested positive for molly, which is MDMA in its purest form, after the Kentucky Derby.
Welker denies ever using drugs.
Of course, if molly was the culprit, this is not the first time that a NFL player was suspended for the drug.
The issues comes from whether or not a recreational drug should fall under the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy or the substance abuse policy. If it were the latter, it would take two positive tests to result in a suspension.