Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins received a six-game suspension under the league’s policy for performance-enhancing substances. He will miss the first six games of the Cardinals’ 2022 season.
This is a familiar situation.
In 2019, the Cardinals had to deal with a six-game suspension for cornerback Patrick Peterson for PEDs.
The two suspensions are different.
Peterson’s suspension was six games because, under the collective bargaining agreement at that time, a positive test for a banned substance warranted a four-game suspension. If a player tested positive and also tested positive for a masking agent or attempted to manipulate the test, the suspension was six games.
In other words, Peterson tested positive and attempted to cover it up.
That is not the case for Hopkins.
Under the current agreement, testing positive for a banned stimulant earns a two-game suspension. A positive test for an anabolic agent earns a six-game suspension.
If there is any masking agent or attempt to manipulate the test or cover up the positive test, the suspension is eight games now.
So, in Hopkins’ case, there was only a positive test for an anabolic agent. He claims he had no knowledge of anything that contains a banned substance, which is quite possible.
There is always the possibility that Hopkins was knowingly taking a banned substance to get back from his injury. However, with his reputation, the lack of other positive tests and the lack of any foul play as there had to have been with Peterson in 2019, fan reaction should be different.
Hopkins tested positive for a banned substance. He did not try to cover it up.
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