Reports: Ray Lewis Linked To Banned Substance

[Twoo]

[b]For those who don't want to read a crazy long article:[/b]

- H. Jackson promoted and even advertised for a supplement company
- H. Jackson provided samples and product orders to Ravens players and other players from other teams
- Labs tests revealed the products contained banned substances and growth hormones
- Text messages link Ray Lewis to requesting frequent batches of the product in 2009
- Ray Lewis never tested positive due to the NFL testing Urine, not blood- and since the body naturally produces the hormone it rarely comes up in testing
- H. Jackson was ordered by the NFL to break ties with the company ASAP


EDIT: LINK AVAILABLE

http://www.thepostgame.com/features/201101/tpg-exclusive-nfl-orders-raiders-head-coach-hue-jackson-end-ties-company-linked-bann

IT'S LONG, here's a snipit.


[quote]Jackson, who was promoted from offensive coordinator by the Raiders on Tuesday, began endorsing a company called Sports With Alternatives To Steroids (S.W.A.T.S.) while he was an assistant with the Baltimore Ravens from 2008 to 2009. Jackson ended his association with the company this month.

One of the S.W.A.T.S. products, “The Ultimate Spray,” is labeled as containing deer antler velvet extract. On the company website, swatsteam.com, the spray is said to contain “very delicate and unique nutritional properties … such as IGF-1 and other growth factors.” IGF-1 is banned by the NFL.

S.W.A.T.S. owner Mitch Ross told ThePostGame.com he met Jackson at the NFL Combine in 2008 and forged a relationship. Ross said he supplied Jackson with free products, which he said were then distributed to players – including Ravens All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis. Ross also said he gave the spray to Cincinnati Bengals safety Roy Williams and two assistant NFL coaches, Anthony Lynn of the New York Jets and Jay Hayes of the Bengals.

....

[u]A text message from Ross to the phone registered to Lewis at 8:05 a.m. on Nov. 2, 2009 asked, “You need more spray?” A reply from Lewis’ phone, received one minute later, read, “Yes my man, always.” Another text from Lewis’ phone read, “Yes, send me all the stuff.”[/u][/quote]

[K-Dog]

Lies !!!!!!!!!!!

[TreTheRaven]

Link?

[Moderator 2]

[url="http://twitter.com/WNST/statuses/27903388670758912"]I read 'Steroid Spray"[/url] Is Flonase banned?

[Twoo]

[quote name='TreTheRaven' timestamp='1295488987' post='618289']
Link?
[/quote]


Added.

[K-Dog]

If I am reading it correctly Ray was GIVEN the product. It doesnt say any thing about USING.

[Twoo]

[quote name='K-Dog' timestamp='1295489224' post='618296']
If I am reading it correctly Ray was GIVEN the product. It doesnt say any thing about USING.
[/quote]


Guess you missed this part?

[u][b]A text message from Ross to the phone registered to Lewis at 8:05 a.m. on Nov. 2, 2009 asked, “You need more spray?” A reply from Lewis’ phone, received one minute later, read, “Yes my man, always.” Another text from Lewis’ phone read, “Yes, send me all the stuff.”[/b][/u]

[berad]

This story is so unsubstantiated a convoluted, it's very difficult to follow... If Hue brought it to the Ravens, does that mean they all were exposed to it? What? I'm so confused.

[JO_75]

[quote name='K-Dog' timestamp='1295489224' post='618296']
If I am reading it correctly Ray was GIVEN the product. It doesnt say any thing about USING.
[/quote]

Yep and until Ray says he used it, it doesn't mean he did. That is on Hue Jackson and getting himself involved on something that is banned in the NFL. It's Hue's fault and NFL should make him pay with a hefty fine.

[Moderator 2]

Wow this is about a strange as it gets.

[Bltravens]

Pretty sure if he did he would have tested positive for the substance would he not have?

Dude where is PuRock, we were just talking about how this has been the worst football week ever.

[K-Dog]

[quote name='Twoo' timestamp='1295489322' post='618299']
Guess you missed this part?

[u][b]A text message from Ross to the phone registered to Lewis at 8:05 a.m. on Nov. 2, 2009 asked, “You need more spray?” A reply from Lewis’ phone, received one minute later, read, “Yes my man, always.” Another text from Lewis’ phone read, “Yes, send me all the stuff.”[/b][/u]
[/quote]


Yes actually I did in fact miss that part.

[TreTheRaven]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1295489616' post='618305']
Pretty sure if he did he would have tested positive for the substance would he not have?
[/quote]

That's what I was thinking. You would think they would have tested him between now and practically the last 2 years almost.

[Twoo]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1295489616' post='618305']
Pretty sure if he did he would have tested positive for the substance would he not have?
[/quote]

Ever watch Playmakers?

READ THE ARTICLE!!!

[i][u]Because IGF-1 is a naturally occurring hormone – much like testosterone – it is very difficult to test for, according to Danaceau.

“You can find it,” Danaceau said. “But saying whether this is synthetic or natural is hard to determine. It’s only detectable in blood, and most anti-doping tests are done in urine.”[/u][/i]

[JO_75]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1295489616' post='618305']
Pretty sure if he did he would have tested positive for the substance would he not have?

Dude where is PuRock, we were just talking about how this has been the worst football week ever.
[/quote]

Yep again, on Hue. Ray and other players were probably smart enough to know not to take it and Hue was a idiot to even get involved in the first place.

[jus'_crAzy]

First thoughts: I really hate Hue Jackson right now. I'm glad he's in a garbage organization in the Raiders. Hope he fails to no end.

Second thoughts (may or may not be) coming soon...

[PuRock]

We'll have to wait until all the information comes out before we jump to conclusions.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='Twoo' timestamp='1295489703' post='618311']
Ever watch Playmakers?

READ THE ARTICLE!!!

[i][u]Because IGF-1 is a naturally occurring hormone – much like testosterone – it is very difficult to test for, according to Danaceau.

“You can find it,” Danaceau said. “But saying whether this is synthetic or natural is hard to determine. It’s only detectable in blood, and most anti-doping tests are done in urine.”[/u][/i]
[/quote]
lol nah whats Playmakers?

Anyway, so theres nothing the NFL can do anyway. The information they have doesn't prove Lewis actually used it, or if there was a transaction that ever took place. It's like charging a guy for buying cocaine, but there was no visual or witness information with a transaction, or proof of use. It's like if I texted my boy "ehh get me some of that good stuff".

[Twoo]

For those who didn't read the whole thing... read my cliff notes- explains everything.

[Jillester]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1295489616' post='618305']
Pretty sure if he did he would have tested positive for the substance would he not have?

Dude where is PuRock, we were just talking about how this has been the worst football week ever.
[/quote]


"anti-doping tests are done with urine in which this specific natural hormone is not detectable."

[theFRANCHISE]

See, the other thing you have to consider is, the term "performance-enhancing drug" is extremely broad; it doesn't necessarily entail anything that gives a competitive edge, as certain legal prescriptions are also under that umbrella because of their ingredients. Furthermore, there are plenty of creams and other ointments/treatments that contain steroids but not in the traditional sense as you'd think in sports.

Honestly, I'm not thinking too much of this.

[Guest RBates]

Wow and the hits just keep on coming. But he has played pretty freakish for a fifteen year guy. I would hate if this was true.

[berad]

The name of the company is S.W.A.T.S. which stands for [i]"Sports With Alternatives To Steroids"[/i]

Funny that they should have a byproduct of HGH in their product. And, by the way, to my understanding this product doesn't have any HGH in it - only the byproduct.

[K-Dog]

its not the first time Ray has been accused of something he did not do.

[theFRANCHISE]

The non-chalant reporting of this story by Pro Football Talk has me convinced that this story isn't a big deal and isn't as dramatic as it's being made to sound: [url="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/19/nfl-forces-hue-jackson-to-cut-ties-with-supplement-company/"]LINK[/url]

[jus'_crAzy]

[quote name='K-Dog' timestamp='1295490653' post='618360']
its not the first time Ray has been accused of something he did not do.
[/quote]

Didn't stop people outside of this circle from dragging his name through the mud.

This'll be no different.

[PuRock]

[quote name='jus'_crAzy' timestamp='1295490798' post='618370']
Didn't stop people outside of this circle from dragging his name through the mud.

This'll be no different.
[/quote]

Yep no matter how little this story is, it'll be a black mark upon him and the organization in the eyes of outsiders. Such a shame.

[jus'_crAzy]

You guys brace yourselves.

We're gonna have to explain ourselves to outsiders. This is gonna be bad.

[AwakenTheDemon]

Now will we get to hear Steeler fans says he murdered someone due to "roid rage"?

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='jus'_crAzy' timestamp='1295490999' post='618379']
You guys brace yourselves.

We're gonna have to explain ourselves to outsiders. This is gonna be bad.
[/quote]

It's not going to be anything worse than what we've had to endure as fans already. Ray hasn't tested positive for anything before this. We'll wait for the concerte facts to come out and see if the league takes action.

This won't change my view of anything Ray has done during his career.