Nick Piccone
Lane Johnson said earlier today that the NFLPA doesn’t have its players’ backs after he said the union checks the supplements players take but doesn’t test them.
The NFLPA responded to Johnson’s comments in quick fashion. [via CSN’s Dave Zangaro]
If you can’t see the pic:
1. NFLPA does not approve supplements.
2. While the App may have listed it with a green check, players are reminded within the app, at team meetings and as part of the policy that a) supplements may contain stuff not on the label and b) still strict liability for putting it into your body if it contains something not on the label.
“Lane is factually incorrect. We do not approve supplements.” — NFLPA spokesperson #Eagles
— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroCSN) August 13, 2016
Oh, look. Lane Johnson lying? Again? More:
“We always stand up for the rights of our players. Mr. Johnson’s statements are factually inaccurate and we have been in touch with both Lane and his agent, who now understand the facts. The NFLPA does not approve any supplements or substances. For several years, the NFLPA has provided a free service to every NFL player who wishes to have us test a supplement they send to us and this service was offered to Lane.”
Johnson said this morning that he believed the NFL players have no rights because they’re not backed by the NFLPA during times like this.
“The first time, I knew I was at fault. There’s no worse feeling than having to go through this again. This is something that I definitely wanted to avoid. It’s nothing I ever wanted to be a part of again. I learned my lesson.
“I feel like the players have no rights. I feel, the supplement industry is not regulated, so you do not know what’s in it. (That’s) hard to believe, coming from a second-time offender, but I want that to be clear, that the NFLPA does not stand up for players. They don’t check the supplements, They give us an app. Then when you call them and ask ’em, if you test positive for something they approve, it doesn’t matter.”
…
Johnson said his attorney is having the supplement he took tested, but even if it turns out there are ingredients present that aren’t on the label, it won’t matter to the league. He said he has little hope that his B sample will test any differently than the initial one.
“I’m still going to get suspended,” Johnson said. “It’s been a nightmare. I’ve known this for a couple weeks, and had to come out here like nothing’s wrong. That’s been the hardest thing. The last thing I wanted to be labeled as is a cheater, (for) my son to look me in the eye and say, ‘Hey daddy, what are you doing?’ I have nothing to hide, so I’m moving forward, from that standpoint.”
Clearing up: Johnson referred to NFLPA’s Aegis phone app, which scans labels of products. If something isn’t on the label, app wouldn’t know
— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) August 13, 2016
And to clarify this, Aegis is the toxicology lab that does the testing program. https://t.co/ATK2dmiVOh
— Michael Hayes (@MichaelHayes302) August 13, 2016
And, in case you wanted to read the NFL’s policy on PEDs, here it is: [H/T to John Bielski]
