Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker has been suspended 4 games for using amphetamines. According to multiple media reports he has already appealed the suspension and it has been rejected by the National Football League. This news broke just one day after Welker rejoined the Broncos practice after missing time due to a concussion he suffered during a preseason football game on August 23rd against the Houston Texans. It was Welker’s third concussion in less than a year.
Late Tuesday night Welker sent an email to the Denver Post newspaper about the positive drug test, below are parts of that email:
“I’m as shocked as everyone at today’s news,” Welker said in the report. “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 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 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.”