Mark Sanchez suspended for four games after PED violation
Mark Sanchez has been suspended by the NFL for the first four games of the 2018 season, the quarterback announced via Instagram on Friday afternoon. The suspension is for a violation of the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy.
“The NFL has informed me that I have tested positive for a substance on the banned substance list,” Sanchez wrote. “I was blind-sided by the news and I want to say unequivocally that I have never cheated or attempted to gain a competitive advantage by using a banned performance enhancing substance.
“During the past nine years as an NFL player I have been subject to 73 drug tests — an average of over eight tests per season — and all but one have been clean. I have taken the same regimen of supplements for the past five years without any issues. The timing and results of my tests establish circumstances of unknowing supplement contamination, not the use of performance enhancing substances.”
A post shared by Mark Sanchez (@mark_sanchez) on Apr 13, 2018 at 2:08pm PDT
Sanchez spent the 2017 season with the Chicago Bears. He spent the whole season backing up Mike Glennon and Mitch Trubisky, and never saw the field. He was a backup briefly in Dallas in 2016. He made his last start with the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2015 season. He has attempted only 109 passes over his last three seasons in the league.
Sanchez is currently a free agent, and has not yet struck a deal with a team for the 2018 season. Should he sign with a team, Sanchez is eligible to participate in their offseason program, training camp and any preseason games, but will have to miss the first four games of the regular season.
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