Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker has hit out at the NFL's drug test procedure and has insisted that he wouldn't take any substance to gain an advantage.
The 33-year-old has been banned for four matches by the league, following a failed appeal two weeks ago for testing positive for an amphetamine in May, which breached the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
"I'm as shocked as everyone at today's news," Welker told the Denver Post. "I want to make one thing abundantly clear - I would never knowingly take a substance to gain a competitive advantage in any way.
"Anyone who has ever played a down with me, lifted a weight with me, even eaten a meal with me, knows that I focus purely on what I put in my body and on the hard work I put in year round to perform at the highest levels year-in and year-out.
"I have never been concerned with the leagues performance enhancing or drug abuse policies because under no scenario would they ever apply to me, but I now know, that [drug-policy procedures] are clearly flawed, and I will do everything in my power to ensure they are corrected, so other individuals and teams aren't negatively affected so rashly like this."
Welker will be able to return to action in week six of the season.
Simon Sinclair
