Did Baltimore Raven LB Ray Lewis Get Illegal Banned Substances (Deer-Antler Apray with IGF-1) from S.W.A.T.S to Speed Up his Triceps Recovery?

PED … Oh that dreaded deer antler spray …

With the Super Bowl  XLVII only days away along comes the following story to bring some life to media day … Did Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis use a banned substance from S.W.A.T.S to speed up his recovery from his triceps injury? According to a Sports Illustrated story, he did. According to the report, Lewis used a deer-antler spray that contained IGF-1, which is on the NFL’s list of banned substances. With so many athletes using PED, it is almost like it is a story and news alert when we learn of one who isn’t using. Defiant denials of the use of PED from athletes mean little today. We have been down that path before.

Sports Illustrated has published an in-depth examination of a company called Sports with Alternatives to Steroids (S.W.A.T.S.) and its relationship with high-profile athletes, including Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.

S.W.A.T.S. is an edgy sports science company run by a gym owner/former stripper. The company specializes in holographic stickers, deer-antler pills, and other, um, progressive means of enhancing a player’s performance.

David Epstein and George Dohrmann write that S.W.A.T.S. owner Mitch Ross recorded a phone conversation with Lewis after the linebacker’s injury in October.

 As reported at ESPN, Ray Lewis is denying reports that he used PED, performance enhancing drugs. However, in this day and age of sports, one has to wonder who isn’t using them. Although it has been stated that Lewis has never tested positive for a banned substance, one has to ask when was the last time he was tested.  One thing is for certain, its a good thing that Ray Lewis is retiring from the NFL. The legs of this story most likely will go away when Lewis does. Although, it will depend on whether he wants to get a TV gig after his career, then the legs of the PED will be back.

Ray Lewis was given a product to help heal his torn triceps that contains a banned substance, according to a Sports Illustrated report that will appear on newsstands Monday. The Baltimore Ravens linebacker has not tested positive and denies using it, a team official told ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio.

The Ravens had a meeting with Lewis on Tuesday morning to discuss the article.

“He denied using the substance discussed in the article, and we believe him,” Byrne told ESPN.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he has not talked to Lewis about the report.

“Ray has worked incredibly hard to get back. I would hate to see anything diminish that,” he said. “My understanding is that he’s passed every random substance test that he’s taken throughout his career.”

When asked by SI whether he had talked to Ross, Lewis replied, “I told him to send me some more of the regular stuff, the SWATS, the stickers or whatever.” Asked by the magazine whether what he was sent helped, Lewis replied, “I think a lot of things helped me.”