Saying players are responsible for what goes in their body, Bears coach John Fox showed little sympathy for Alshon Jeffery’s claim that his positive performance-enhancing drug test came from a recommended supplement.
“Everybody in the building, to be honest with you, educates these guys,” Fox said Wednesday at Halas Hall. “So, especially a veteran, they have heard it 400 times.”
The Bears, then, didn’t recommend the supplement.
Jeffery, who was suspended four games Monday, claimed in his statement that he has “been very careful about what I put in my body,” Fox, though, said the Bears warn their players about the dangers of taking the wrong supplements.
“These guys are very, very, very, very well-educated on the fact that they’re responsible for what they put in their system,” he said. “There are certain procedures you go through. You can get things cleared through the league.”
The Food and Drug Administration does not certify the contents of supplements; some that are available over-the-counter are illegal in the NFL.
The NFL Players’ Association does not test all supplements, either, but can if a player submits a request. Bears players can check whether they should use a supplement with the NFLPA and also through the Bears’ sports science department, Fox said.
The union has an app, too, to help identify banned substances.
Eric Kush looks for supplements that have a “NSF Certified for Sport” label confirming that the listed ingredients are correct. Thumbing his way around the edge of his jar, the guard said he knows what companies he can, “for the most part,” trust.
“That’s your responsibility,” he said.
Outside linebacker Pernell McPhee said with a smile that he doesn’t need supplements — “I believe in God, man; I don’t worry about all that different stuff,” he said — but use is widespread. Kush said he doesn’t know a single player who refuses to take them for fear of false labeling.
Players know to consult a list of what to take, Zach Miller said.
“I don’t know what’s on that list — it’s given to us — and if you’re going to get onto something or try to take something, you’ve got to make sure it’s clean,” the tight end said. “Make sure it’s made by the right people.”
If Jeffery’s violation is really an honest mistake, he didn’t do that homework.
“If you look around the league,” Fox said, “it does happen. So it’s something that you don’t want to happen.”
