Tennessee Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan was officially suspended by the NFL for four games on Friday for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy.
Lewan revealed at the start of training camp that he was appealing a suspension and issued an apology, but that suspension was upheld.
“Taylor Lewan of the Tennessee Titans has been suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2019 regular season for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances,” the league said in a statement. “Lewan is eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games. He will be allowed to return to the Titans’ active roster on Monday, Sept. 30, following the team’s Week 4 game at Atlanta.”
The 28-year-old Pro Bowler has missed just one game over the last three seasons. He had tested positive for ostarine, which has “similar properties to anabolic agents” and is on a trial basis to treat osteoporosis and some forms of cancer, per the USADA.
It has been banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency since 2008.
Lewan is the second player this month to lose an appeal for taking a PED, joining New York Giants wide receiver Golden Tate. Tate claimed he took a fertility drug that he was unaware was a banned substance. Lewan, meanwhile, had taken a lie detector test to prove he, at least unknowingly, had taken a banned substance.
RADIO.COM’s Ross Tucker recently railed against both players’ excuses on the ‘Home and Home’ podcast, saying he has “no sympathy” for players who “unknowingly” take banned substances.