Saints Jamar Nesbit says cleansing supplement tainted

The New Orleans suspended linemen Jamar Nesbit claims that a tainted supplement caused his dirty urine and subsequent suspension for 4 games, for violating the NFL's steroid policy. To NOLA.com

The Saints got their daily dose of bad news Tuesday when the NFL announced that starting left guard Jamar Nesbit will be suspended without pay for the next four games for violating the league's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances.

Nesbit, who will not be allowed to participate in any team activities until Oct. 20, insisted he never intentionally took any substances banned by the NFL. He said that his failed drug test stemmed from an over-the-counter product he took this summer, which was advertised as an all-natural body-cleansing health product.

Nesbit said he checked all of the ingredients on the bottle against the NFL's list of approved substances and also called the company. But he said there was an unidentified ingredient in the product that caused him to fail a drug test this summer.

"The NFL's policy is that I'm responsible for whatever I put in my body," said Nesbit, a 10-year veteran who has not missed a game in his five seasons with the Saints. "And to a certain extent, I understand the logic behind it. And I support the league in trying to keep the integrity of the sport clean. At the same time, I don't think this rule was meant to affect the Jamar Nesbits of the world -- or, I should say, the people that are trying to do the right thing.

"Hopefully people that know me or know of me know that I wouldn't try to cheat the game or cheat myself."

The NFL has a zero-tolerance policy for even a first offense, which results in an automatic four-game suspension.

Nesbit waived his right to appeal once the lengthy testing process was completed because he could not argue with the results of two urine samples and a toxicology report.

But his agent, Jonathan Feinsod, said Nesbit plans to pursue "all legal avenues" with the company that produced the alleged tainted product.

For legal reasons, Feinsod and Nesbit declined to identify the product. But Nesbit said it is accessible in a chain store and is not designed specifically for athletes.

When asked if the product actually worked as intended, Nesbit said, "Whether it worked or not, it's not worth what I'm going through."

One Saints player expressed support for the lineman:

"You don't make a 10-year career out of cutting corners and cheating the system. He puts in the work. Your heart just goes out to him and his family."

Comments

[sal m]

that's BS about not telling people what supplement he took. why not get the word out and protect others from this same fate?

[Comedy Blog]

A likely story. Since the supplement was tainted and caused him a 4 week suspension, I can understand why he doesn't want to divulge the information.

p.s. I doubt the lawsuit very much. Good PR person tho.

[Robert]

I believe Jamar Nesbit . . . he speaks like an honest man. I've thought there were problems with the system for awhile. I was so upset when Hollis Thomas was suspended for the steroid in his inhaler. The man can't breathe. The team doctors appealed it with him and he still had to serve the suspension.

Sal . . . If he's honstly going through a lawsuit, why would he publicly say the name of the product?

[Scott]

I went to high school with Jamar and he was always an honest and respectible person. He was a leader and I think a lot of his peers looked up to him. I believe his statements are from the heart and honest.