Jones says he’s ‘disappointed’ over latest drug suspension
We ... accept the league’s decision and corresponding two-game suspension.
The time has arrived to start mass-producing “Roider Pride” buttons.
That was the impulsive reaction Monday upon discovering that Saskatchewan Roughriders tailback Marcus Thigpen had received a two-game suspension after testing positive for a banned substance, (inhale) dehydrochloromethyltestosterone (exhale).
Two months earlier, Roughriders offensive tackle Bruce Campbell was issued a two-game suspension for using the synthetic growth hormone ibutamoren.
Each case contravened the CFL/CFLPA drug policy.
One can only imagine the degree to which the Ottawa Redblacks and their fans are thrilled over recent developments.
On Nov. 12, remember, Thigpen rushed for 169 yards — including 75 on one scintillating scoring sprint — to help Saskatchewan defeat Ottawa 31-20 in the East Division semifinal at PED ... er, TD Place.
While conducting interviews after the game, Thigpen was resplendent in a T-shirt bearing the Superman logo.
Now the “S” is short for “Suspended.”
As Thigpen took off on his long-distance touchdown run, one had to marvel at how a 31-year-old tailback who had been out of football for nearly two years could leave everyone in the dust.
“I felt like I stopped playing too early and felt like I still had a lot in the tank,” Thigpen told reporters after the game. “I was still running track with my high school coach and I knew I still had the speed.
“I stayed in the weight room. I knew I had the size and strength. I just felt like I missed it and wanted to come back.”
Good to know.
I’ll say this for the Roughriders: They have their prepared statement game down pat. Practice makes perfect.
“We are disappointed in Marcus and that he has tested positive for a banned substance,” Roughriders head coach, general manager and vice-president of football operations Chris Jones apparently said in a Monday media release.
“We have been in conversation with Marcus and the CFL for clarity, and accept the league’s decision and corresponding twogame suspension. Our organization fully supports the CFL/ CFLPA policy preventing the use of performance enhancing drugs.”
(Have you ever heard a football coach utter “corresponding ?” Just wondering.)
Comparable phrasing was used on Jan. 14, after the suspension to Campbell was announced.
“We are disappointed to learn that a member of our team has committed a violation,” Jones said in the earlier media release. “We have spoken with Bruce and he has taken ownership of his decision and realizes the impact of the violation.”
Say this much for Campbell: He is the rare player who actually says “I did it,” a welcome departure from the typical “someone spiked my Gatorade” response.
“First, I would like to apologize to the Saskatchewan Roughriders organization and my teammates for putting them in this position,” Campbell, an as-yetunsigned free agent, said in
(what else?) a team-issued media release. “I’d also like to apologize to Rider fans and fans across the league.
“I take full responsibility for my actions and ensure you it will not happen again. I accept the Canadian Football League decision and will not be appealing the two-game suspension.”
Thanks to Campbell and Thigpen, 16.66666 per cent of the Roughriders’ offensive starters in the playoffs were eventually found to be on some substance or another.
And there’s more!
Twenty-five per cent of the team’s post-season offensive starters have subsequently made news for the wrong reasons.
On Nov. 25, wide receiver/ cornerback Duron Carter — the Roughriders’ most outstanding player in 2017 — was charged with possession of a controlled substance at Winnipeg International Airport. He was alleged to have in his possession more than 30 grams of marijuana. On Monday in Winnipeg, the next court date (April 9) was set.
Carter was also arrested at Saskatoon International Airport and charged with marijuana possession on Feb. 1. His court date relating to that charge is March 27 in Saskatoon.
“I’m really disappointed,” Jones told reporters on Feb. 14, “because I thought we were a bit beyond that thing.”
So, to recap …
The Roughriders are disappointed in Carter.
They are disappointed in Campbell.
Now they’re disappointed in Thigpen.
It turns out that, in Roughriders parlance, “D” isn’t solely an abbreviation for “Deeee-fence!”
There’s also “Disappointed” and, lest we forget, “Dehydrochloromethyltestosterone.”