New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram’s representatives at VIP Sports Management released a statement Wednesday revealing Ingram is fighting a four-game suspension for testing positive for performance enhancing drugs.
It was reported Tuesday Ingram— a two time Pro Bowler and former Alabama running back— would serve a four-game suspension to begin the 2018 season after testing positive for PEDs.
“At the end of the 2017 season, as a result of an NFL mandated drug test, Mark Ingram tested positive for a substance that was not a performance enhancing substance, nor an illegal substance, but a substance in fact permissible with the proper use exemption by the NFL,” Ingram’s general counsel David W. Jones said in the statement. “He has vigorously challenged the test results through the arbitration process.”
The statement went on to reveal the opinion by arbitrator is due on or before May 16.
The Advocate’s Nick Underhill reported Wednesday afternoon the decision to suspend Ingram has been made despite Ingram’s attempt to appeal.
“This statement reads a couple different ways. But the appeals process is done,” Underhill wrote on Twitter. “The May 16 date is when they get the written decision. They were informed of the decision verbally yesterday, which is why the suspension was announced.”
The Saints are expected to play without Ingram in the backfield as the Saints host the Buccaneers and Browns in Weeks 1 and 2 and travel to play the Falcons and Giants in Weeks 3 and 4.
Ingram, the main part of the Saints run attack in 2017 along with rookie Alvin Kamara, rushed for a career highs of 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. Ingram also received for a career-high 416 yards in 2017.
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