:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64838452/1058381164.jpg.0.jpg)
Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate is facing a four-game suspension from the NFL after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
It’s a particularly tough blow for the New York Giants, who also lost Corey Coleman to a torn ACL at the beginning of training camp earlier in the week.
Tate is appealing the suspension and explained what happened in pretty thorough detail on a social media post Saturday morning:
My statement. pic.twitter.com/WzP7W4bclB
— Golden Tate (@ShowtimeTate) July 27, 2019
“This past April, during the off-season, my wife and I decided to see a specialist for fertility planning,” Tate said. “I started the treatment prescribed to me and just days later I discovered it contained an ingredient that is on the league’s banned substance list.”
Tate said he immediately stopped the treatment and reported the situation to the league, his coaches and Giants general manager Dave Gettleman, even before his test was flagged as positive. He argues that because he immediately stopped taking the treatment it “had no effect on the upcoming season.”
In the end, Tate believes his long-standing integrity and upfrontedness about the situation should clear his name.
“During the entirety of my 10 year career I have taken great pride in playing this game the right way, have been an ambassador for the NFL and have never had any issues with the league’s policy.”
The Lions will play the New York Giants in Week 8 of the 2019 regular season.