James Harrison gets random drug test right after suspension report (Video)
James Harrison is in the group of NFL players subject to a performance-enhancing drugs investigation, and he got a not-so-random drug test on Tuesday.
On Monday, the NFL threatened suspensions for the four remaining players that have not agreed to be interviewed in an investigation stemming from an Al Jazeera report on performance-enhancing drugs. In that group is Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison, who has been defiant about the investigation and allegations of PED use.
Harrison’s agent said he and his client had yet to be informed of the league’s letter threatening punishment, but Harrison is open to an interview. That contradicts Harrison’s previous comments, but a desire to put the whole thing behind him with the start of the season coming may be a priority now.
On Tuesday, Harrison posted this video on Facebook.
Drug tests are supposed to be random, so as to catch offenders off-guard. But a healthy amount of skepticism is warranted in Harrison’s case, and he clearly conveys that. It’s beyond a convenient coincidence he got a random test Tuesday morning, less than 24 hours after the league upped the ante with threats of punishment if he doesn’t submit an interview by Aug. 25.
Related Story: Four NFL players in Al Jazeera case face suspensions
The NFL alleged it has attempted to interview Harrison and the three other players they seek at least seven times. But the three active players on the list — Harrison, Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers — ere not be interviewed on the first day of training camp, as reports suggested they would be. It’s hard to fully believe the league office on much of anything these days, with commissioner Roger Goodell’s unchecked power firmly in mind. But let’s hope this situation is put to bed soon.