Chargers' Antonio Gates suspended 4 games for PED use
San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates has been suspended without pay for the first four games of the regular season for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances.
Gates underwent a renaissance performance of sorts, recording 69 receptions for 821 yards and 12 touchdowns, the second-highest single-season total of his career in the latter category.
"We are tremendously disappointed for our team and our fans as well as Antonio, but no more disappointed than Antonio is with himself," the Chargers said in a statement Thursday. "Antonio is a member of the Chargers’ family and we will continue to support him 100-percent. We have the utmost confidence he will stay in excellent shape for the season and be ready to go when he returns in Week 5. While it's unfortunate to not have him to start the season, we have complete confidence our tight end group will continue to play at a high level."
Widely considered one of the preeminent players at his position during his 12-year career, Gates was named to eight consecutive Pro Bowls from 2004-2011.
Gates also released his own personal statement on the sanction Thursday.
"In my 12 years in the NFL, I have taken tremendous pride in upholding the integrity of the NFL shield and all that it entails. I have taken extreme care of my body with a holistic approach and I have never knowingly ingested a substance that was banned by the NFL. In an effort to recover from this past season, I used supplements and holistic medicines, and unfortunately, I have now learned that those substances always present a risk because they may contain banned substances even if the ingredient list doesn’t reflect them. As an NFL veteran and team leader, I should have done my due diligence to ensure that what I was taking for recovery was within the NFL guidelines. I understand that I am responsible for what is in my body and I have always believed that ignorance is no excuse when it comes to these issues. I take full responsibility for my actions. I’d like to express my sincere apologies to the Chargers, my teammates, coaches, fans and the league who have always supported me and expected and gotten nothing but the highest level of integrity from me."
In Gates' absence, Ladarius Green will be thrust into the starting tight end role for the Chargers. Green was primed as Gates' successor and caught 19 passes for 226 yards last season while largely being utilized out of sub-packages.