Houston Texans defensive lineman Denico Autry has been suspended for the first six games of the regular season. The suspension, issued on Monday, comes after Autry violated the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Autry has stated that he did not knowingly ingest a banned substance but accepts the suspension nonetheless. He claims that the pharmacy which filled his prescription had erroneously included a banned substance.
Despite being suspended, Autry is still allowed to participate in preseason practice and games. His first appearance in the regular season is set for Oct. 20 in a game against the Green Bay Packers. Autry has played for the NFL for 10 seasons already and has apologized to the Texans organization, teammates, and fans for the distraction caused by his unexpected positive test result.
Autry, aged 34, has a record of 59 sacks during his 10 NFL seasons. His career reached a high with 11 1/2 sacks in the previous season for the Tennessee Titans. The Texans recognized his noteworthy performance and signed a free-agent contract with him for two years, worth $20 million, in March.
The seasoned athlete issued a statement to clarify his position regarding the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Autry reassured that he has never engaged in the use of such substances in his 10-year NFL career and cited his countless tests, none of which returned a positive result until now. He expressed his shock at the recent positive result that surfaced this offseason.
His attorney has presented necessary documentation to the NFL from Autry’s physicians. The documents verify that Autry neither solicited nor was prescribed any banned substances. Autry stressed his innocence, asserting that he did not intentionally or knowingly ingest the prohibited substance.
Despite contesting his innocent stance, Autry acknowledges that he is ultimately responsible for what enters his body, according to the NFL’s policies. He stated that he would explore legal alternatives regarding the circumstances leading to his positive test result, but he has accepted the NFL’s sanction of a six-game suspension. This story and further sports updates are reported by The Associated Press.
