Wes Welker wrote an impassioned email to the Denver Post regarding his four-game suspension from the NFL for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
Which was almost undone by addition information suggesting that he thought someone may have spiked something he was drinking in public.
ESPN first reported the suspension for use of amphetamines. A source familiar with the investigation told the Denver Post that Welker tested positive for Adderall. ESPN reported that Welker argued that the sample was tainted; the Post stated that Welker wondered whether someone put something in his drink when he attended the Kentucky Derby.
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He reportedly tested positive for the substance shortly after the race.
"I'm as shocked as everyone at todays news," Welker said in an e-mail to The Denver Post. "I want to make one thing abundantly clear: I would NEVER knowingly take a substance to gain a competitive advantage in any way. Anyone who has ever played a down with me, lifted a weight with me, even eaten a meal with me, knows that I focus purely on what I put in my body and on the hard work I put in year round to perform at the highest levels year-in and year-out.
"I want any youth football players and all sports fans to know, there are NO shortcuts to success, and nothing but hard work and studying, leads to success.
"I have never been concerned with the leagues performance enhancing or drug abuse policies because under no scenario would they ever apply to me, but I now know, that (drug-policy procedures) are clearly flawed, and I will do everything in my power to ensure they are corrected, so other individuals and teams aren't negatively affected so rashly like this.
"I have worked my whole life to be the best that I can be, and I have encountered many obstacles over my career, and THIS WILL BE NO DIFFERENT!
"Thank you for the outpouring of support, and I want Bronco nation to know, that no one and no thing will get in the way of our goal as a team, to bring Mr. Bowlen the trophy he and this great region deserve."
Welker may be correct, but when he speculates that his drink was spiked, his argument begins to sound hollow. Why would someone spike his drink at the Kentucky Derby? And if it's possible someone did, why hasn't anyone done it before?
If Welker can prove his innocence, more power to him. Until then, Welker must stop with the public campaign that could remind sports fans of former baseball player Rafael Palmeiro's response to Congress in 2005 when asked whether he ever took performance-enhancing drugs.
Do you think it's realistic that someone could've spiked Wes Welker's drink at the Kentucky Derby? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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