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While golfer Vijay Singh has fessed up, Ray Lewis yesterday denied he had ever used deer-antler spray, a banned substance in the NFL and on the PGA Tour.
Speaking in New Orleans where the Ravens met the media in advance of Sunday’s Super Bowl XLVII, the linebacker gave a more passionate defense than he had the previous day to allegations he used banned substances, including the spray.
Both Lewis and Singh were outed in the latest issue of Sports Illustrated where Singh revealed he used the spray. According to the magazine, Singh paid one of the owners of supplement company Sports with Alternatives to Steroids (S.W.A.T.S.) $9,000 last November for the spray, hologram chips and other products.
The magazine also reported Lewis sought help from S.W.A.T.S in his recovery this season from a torn right triceps. The company says its deer-antler substance contains IGF-1, a banned performance enhancer that is related to human growth hormone and stimulates muscle growth.
“I’ve never, ever took what he says I was supposed to do,” Lewis said. “It’s just sad that someone can have this much attention on a stage this big where the dreams are really real. I don’t need it, my teammates don’t need it, the 49ers don’t need it. Nobody needs it because it just really shows you that people really plan things and try to attack people from the outside.
“It’s just very foolish. The guy has no credibility. He’s been sued four or five times over this same BS. I just truly believe he doesn’t have the privilege for me to speak about it ever again.”
Lewis was referring to Mitch Ross, co-owner of S.W.A.T.S. The lightning-rod linebacker, who is retiring after the Super Bowl, was asked yesterday if he was angry.
“Me? Never angry,” he said. “I’m too blessed to be stressed. No, you’re not angry, you can use a different word. You can use the word agitated, because I am here to win the Super Bowl. I am not here to entertain somebody that does not affect that one way or another.
“The word agitated would probably be better. Angry? I can never let any — anything from the outside can never affect me to be angry.”
Singh released a statement in Scottsdale, Ariz., where he was preparing to play at the Phoenix Open.
“While I have used deer-antler spray, at no time was I aware that it may contain a substance that is banned under the PGA Tour Anti-Doping Policy,” Singh said.
“In fact, when I first received the product, I reviewed the list of ingredients and did not see any prohibited substances. I am absolutely shocked that deer-antler spray may contain a banned substance and am angry that I have put myself in this position. I have been in contact with the PGA Tour and am cooperating fully with their review of this matter. I will not be commenting further at this time.”
PGA Tour spokesman Ty Votaw said the tour is “looking into the matter.”