Colts Linebacker Robert Mathis Suspended First 4 Games of 2014
The Colts defense has played poorly in the last few years, except for one player: Robert Mathis. Even just a slightly-above-average player would stand out on the Indy D; Mathis was much more than above-average. He is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, and he seems to age like fine wine. In 2013, his 10th season in the NFL, he recorded career-highs in sacks with 19.5 and forced fumbles with 8. Those 19.5 sacks were enough to lead all defensive players in sacks last year.
Unfortunately for the Colts, they will be without their best player not named Andrew Luck for the first 4 games of the 2014 regular season. The suspension was handed out because Mathis violated the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy.
Mathis claims that he and his wife were having trouble conceiving, and he was taking the drug to increase his fertility:
“Like many families, my wife and I faced fertility challenges, and I sought medical assistance. I specifically asked the doctor if the medication he prescribed for me would present a problem for NFL drug testing, and unfortunately, he incorrectly told me that it would not. I made the mistake of not calling the NFL or NFLPA to double check before I took the medication at the end of last season.”
However, it was reported the drug in question was Clomid, which NFL Spokesman Greg Aiello expressed is undoubtedly a performance-enhancing drug:
“[Clomid is] not approved by the FDA for fertility in males and is a performance-enhancing drug that has been prohibited for years.”
If the drug was indeed Clomid, it seems unlikely that Mathis would have been completely unaware of its performance-enhancing properties and banned use in the NFL. Mathis will miss games against the Broncos, Eagles, Jaguars, and Titans, and he will eligible to return to the active roster after that September 29th game against the Titans.
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