The NFL has responded to the rumors that Cleveland wide receiver Josh Gordon plans to argue that his positive drug test is the result of secondhand smoke. The league will hear his defense, but said that all the athletes in the NFL are responsible for what is in their bodies and how it gets there.

NFL senior vice president of communications Greg Aiello released a statement concerning Gordon’s claim that he only tested positive due to secondhand smoke and that his samples were barely a positive.

"A cornerstone of both of our drug testing programs has always been that you are responsible for what is in your body," Aiello said via email Tuesday. "It is stated that way in the policies.”

Gordon’s appeal will be heard Friday and he has assembled an all-star cast of lawyers to help him reduce his year-long suspension for a positive drug test. Gordon is no stranger to the NFL’s suspension program as he was suspended for the first two games of the 2013 season before having a breakout season.

Gordon's attorneys Maurice Suh and NFLPA lawyer Heather McPhee believe that they have a case that could reduce Gordon’s suspension and it starts with the secondhand smoke claim. The two attorneys also believe they can use the fact that the star wide receiver was subjected to over 70 drug tests and only registered one positive in which the "A" and "B" samples did not match.

Despite playing in only 14 games, Gordon caught 87 balls for a league high 1,646 yards with nine touchdowns. Gordon is seen as one of the brightest young stars in the NFL, but his frequent off the field issues could cut that promising career short.

[ESPN]

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