The brand manager of Arizona Cardinals star DeAndre Hopkins has released a statement following the wide receiver’s six-game NFL suspension for performance-enhancing substances.
Doug Sanders texted ESPN insider Adam Schefter on Monday night, revealing that Hopkins’ positive result came from a November drug test. However, he denied his client ever knowingly took a forbidden substance.
“DeAndre and everyone who works with him is completely shocked by this finding because he is extremely diligent about what he puts into his body,” Sanders said. “His October and December tests were negative and we are investigating how the November test came back positive.
“DeAndre is committed to demonstrating that he did not knowingly take a banned substance. He has never once tested positive throughout his 10-year career.”
Sanders said Hopkins’ team is “currently testing” every product he used to determine what may have caused the positive test.
DeAndre Hopkins’ brand manager, Doug Sanders, texted this tonight about his client, who was suspended six games earlier in the day: pic.twitter.com/gHlZMKrSQM
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 3, 2022
While Hopkins may be claiming he did not knowingly ingest anything illegal, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the five-time Pro Bowler has dropped his appeal with the league.
Hopkins will miss the first six games of the 2022 NFL season as he serves his suspension. With him out of action, Arizona will have to rely more on A.J. Green, Rondale Moore and Hollywood Brown.
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