In an offseason filled with headlines at the receiver position in particular, one newsworthy item of a different nature was the six-game suspension handed down to DeAndre Hopkins. The cause of the ban – a prohibited substance being found in his bloodstream – remains a talking point for multiple reasons. 
Hopkins was suspended for having Ostarine in his system. It was originally reported, however, he had also tested positive for a diuretic or masking agent. A statement from the NFLPA refutes that allegation, though. It reads in part: “Hopkins never tested positive for any diuretic or masking agent and there was absolutely no evidence of any attempt to substitute, dilute or adulterate any specimen or any attempt to manipulate a test” (Twitter link via Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson).
Hopkins – who at one point considered appealing his suspension in large part due to the fact that a fraction over 0.1% of the substance was found, and maintains that he is unsure how it entered his body – is using his situation as a means to speak out against the NFL’s PED policy writ large. “I’ve never taken any of that kind of stuff,” he said, via ArizonaSports’ Alex Weiner. “If you know about what it is, it can be in shampoo, it can be in a lot of different things. Obviously the NFL is very black and white, so of course, I wish the rule wasn’t so black and white. It is what it is.
“It’s hard to know what you can eat, what you can do when you’re not in control of manufacturing anything or what goes through a conveyor belt… So, obviously, I do think that rules should change. But like I said, that stuff, it’ll work itself out, and I’ve never taken anything. I barely take vitamins.”
The 30-year-old is also rehabbing from an MCL injury which cut his 2021 campaign short. He is expected to recover in time to take the field after his ban ends, but at least until then, his absence and the circumstances surrounding it are likely to remain contentious.
If I was worth $20m+ and had plenty more coming my way, I’d would have everything I touched vetted by the league. I would.
If this was a baseball player people would make him a pariah. They would never give him a second chance. But it is the NFL and there is a huge double standard.
Hello,
Please allow me to introduce you to Ryan Braun, Robinson Cano, Pedro Severino, shall I go on?
Did you even read what I said. They are pariahs in mlb. And I know Ryan Braun very good. Better than you ever would. I forgave him. Baseball didn’t. Look at my name and you will understand.
What are you talking about, each of these guys not only came back, but signed big contracts and got paid millions. You think they care what fans think of them?
I don’t care who you know or how important you think you are, you made a bad point and I called you out on it.
And Braun should be for his allegations upon testing positive.
Baseball players get an 80 game suspension for PED’s. I don’t know of anyone who has been kicked out of the league for testing positive for a banned substance once
That’s not exactly the manner of “pariah” OP is talking about. NFL it seems dudes get suspended and people forget about it. Not the same in MLB circles.
He’s got a point. An Olympic athlete tested positive for a steroid for eating BBQ pork while training in Texas. Athletes that get caught and are guilty don’t go through the lengths to prove their innocence. It also probably feels like a lost cause due to the fact nobody wins those
I you pop….sorta makes you guilty.
Tyson Fury tested positive this way as well. A certain sort of boar meat.
So that’s why I feel stronger after using shampoo.
The tingle means its working!
Since being an NFL WR is akin to being a slave on the plantation to Hopkins he probably won’t mind the ban so much.
No Kaep, Bro
Yeah, I am completely innocent, and I didn’t do it, but appeal the case? Nah….I’m good.
These guys always say the same thing when they get busted. They didn’t do it. They’d never do anything like this. They don’t know how they got it. Probably something they ate or a supplement.
You are old. You are coming back from a major injury. You were using something to get your strength back quicker.
I looked at his name. dlaurenzi.
no clue who that’s supposed to be. anyone else figure out the cryptic riddle?
Legend in his own mind.
Dino Laurenzi Jr., the man who collected Braun’s urine sample.
Cool, so somebody that couldn’t properly handle a cup of piss is supposed to carry some extra weight around here? LOL!
He’s not appealing and the suspension has already been levied. Why should it still be a “talking point”?
Slow news week
Hopkins gets 6 games for using a drug
Watson 8-12 games for being a sexual pervert with many women. Something wrong with this situation.
Chances are Watson won’t even get that. Difference is the NFL has proof on Hopkins. Honestly if I were Hopkins I’d fight it.
6 games. Same as Hoppy.
Absolutely ridiculous.
Well, in Watson’s defense, those victims did make a good bit of money. So at least they got compensated. Your point still stands, though.
There is no defense of what Watson did.
No, not for what he did, you’re right. I meant that I’m sure that his settling those cases certainly impacted the length of his punishment.