Haloti Ngata Busted for Abusing Adderall, Ngata Very Good Idea
Baltimore Ravens five-time Pro-Bowler Haloti Ngata dominates the defensive lines on Sundays, now we know why. CBSSportsline.com’s Jason La Canfora reported Ngata was busted by Commissioner Roger Goodell’s office for using performance-enhancing drugs. He won’t play in the last four games of the regular due to the suspension. Haloti Ngata tested positive for Adderall without having a waiver and his suspension will cost him $2.1 million in salary.
His explanation to the league goes down in the PED Hall of Fame. Ngata said that the combination of Thanksgiving and his three kids worn him out. He needed Adderall to boost his energy for the rest of the regular season. Really? Did his dog eat his playbook too? We say the same thing after our second bottle of tequila. When will players learn?
The Adderall Aftermath
Ngata was having one of his better years in recent memory. He had two sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and seven batted passes in his ninth year in the league. Rookie Tim Jernigan will try to replace the huge void left by Ngata’s absence. The Baltimore Ravens ranked fourth against the run in the league with Ngata in the lineup. General Manager Ozzie Newsome said, “This is disappointing news for the Ravens.” “We are disappointed with Haloti, but no more than he is with himself.”
The NFL doesn’t identify the banned substance when a player is caught. Adderall use by the players is on the rise league-wide, but the league cannot confirm or deny whether that was the basis for the positive test.
The Pros of the Drug for Pros
Like any medication, when it’s abused or taken without the supervision of a medical professional, Adderall is very dangerous. So why would Haloti Ngata use Adderall and take the risk?
According to a report in the Baltimore Sun, The simple explanation, doctors say, is that athletes believe Adderall can grant a person unusual focus and quicker reaction times for a concentrated period. Dr. Scott T. Aaronson, director of clinical research programs at Sheppard Pratt Health System, said the drug could give athletes a burst of energy, but so could caffeine. He said Adderall might offer a “psychological crutch” more than an actual benefit.
Because it leaves the system quickly, the drug might also seem a reasonable risk for players who essentially bet they won’t be tested in that window. The NFL tests every player at least once a season and randomly tests 10 players a week from each team.