With the Super Bowl less than a week away, the process of coming up with storylines -- both good and bad -- about the players and coaches participating in the big event is underway. Specifically, there’s a new angle for Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.
Sports Illustrated published a feature Tuesday documenting Lewis’ possible use of banned substances, specifically an extract called IGF-1 from deer antlers, to recover from his triceps injury in October.
The company who reportedly sent Lewis the goods is called S.W.A.T.S., also known as “Sports with Alternatives to Steroids.” It’s about as shady as one would think: run by two men “out of the back of a gym near Birmingham.”
The college connection comes early on in the story when one of the S.W.A.T.S reps, Christopher Key, makes a pitch in a hotel room to a group of Alabama players right before the 2012 BCS championship game against LSU. The story specifically mentions defensive end Quinton Dial and linebacker Alex Watkins.
Key also introduces the players to the antler spray and “negatively charged” water, among other products. The Tide’s coaching staff was apparently unaware this meeting took place. Key is also said to have given a treatment to an LSU player before the 2010 Senior Bowl.
If Alabama wasn’t already aware of the story -- it’s not exactly a new topic -- they are now. What action, if any, will be taken by either the school or the NCAA is unknown yet. There is mention of banned substances -- IGF-1 is also considered one by the NCAA -- being used by Watkins in the title game against the Tigers.
It’s not your traditional HGH or steroids, but it is an interesting feature on what could be considered a performance enhancer. Point being, don’t be surprised if universities pull out their NCAA binders to give players a refresher.
Because fat, drunk, stupid, and hopped up on deer antler spray is no way to go through life, son.