Thigpen moving on after failed drug test
Marcus Thigpen is stumped.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders tailback still doesn’t know what contributed to him testing positive for a banned substance during the 2017 season.
On March 12, Thigpen was suspended by the CFL for two regularseason games after testing positive for dehydrochloromethyltestosterone, an anabolic steroid. He was stunned when told that he failed a drug test.
“I was just trying to figure out how or why,” Thigpen said during a break at the Roughriders’ training camp.
“I wanted to appeal it and just see what it was. I’m definitely disappointed because I’ve never failed a test and this is my 10th year as a professional. I take care of my body and I wouldn’t do anything to it.”
Thigpen signed with the Riders on Sept. 12 after being out of football for two years. He was initially signed as a returner, but injured a shoulder in his first game with the Riders.
He returned to the Riders’ roster after a six-game stint on the injured list and was activated as a running back due to Cameron Marshall and Trent Richardson dealing with injuries.
Thigpen exploded for 169 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown romp, in the Riders’ 31-20 win over the Ottawa Redblacks in the East Division semifinal.
Thigpen signed a one-year contract extension late in the 2017 season and was excited about returning to the Riders. However, he will now miss two regular season games, which is the penalty for a first-time offender under the CFL’s drug policy. He is allowed to practise with the team and is eligible to play in both pre-season games.
“It’s unfortunate right now because I was looking forward to getting the year off to a good start,” Thigpen said.
“I feel like I let the team down a little bit, but will do everything in my power to be ready to go when I come back.”
There are opportunities for Thigpen to emerge as the starting tailback due to the release of Marshall and Richardson on the suspended list.
“Camp is camp and it’s always going to be important,” Thigpen said. “It’s always on the top of my list. I’m going to make sure that I’m prepared and ready so I’m not treating it like I’m not playing. I’m going to treat it like I’m playing in Game 1. I will go hard and make sure that I’m ready.”