Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Antwan Odom was suspended by the league for four games for testing positive for a banned substance. Like most players in the NFL who get caught he came up with an excuse.
While most excuses are pretty bad, this one I could see being on Investigation ID or Forensic Files one day. Check out the statement from Odom’s agent:
“Antwan did not take a steroid or any other performance enhancing substance. While driving after midnight from Alabama to Cincinnati to report to training camp, Antwan’s wife mistakenly opened her prescription pill bottle instead of Antwan’s and gave him one of her prescription weight loss pills instead of Antwan’s medicine. Naturally, Antwan’s preseason urine test was positive for his wife’s medicine.”
Lets say that Odom is telling the truth.
It is unfortunate that he was suspended. Honest mistake like this happen from time to time.
The problem is that if Odom is not suspended, then everyone who is cheating can use the “mistaken pill” excuse.
I speak a lot of “Common Sense” justice (FREE PLAX), but when I say that it is normally something that can be backed up by facts, not circumstantial evidence. No one should get two years in jail for shooting themselves.
Odom’s story can’t be verified and what we do know is that dietary pills can be used to mask steroid use. So while his story maybe true, there is no way to know if it is 100% truth and that is the reason why he was suspended.
If you open up a loophole every, Shawne Merriman in the world will try to jump through it.