Texans’ Brian Cushing Claims Positive Test Was a Result of Overtraining
Linebacker Brian Cushing of the Houston Texans has stated that the reason he tested positive for a fertility drug last year was the result of "overtrained athlete syndrome." Cushing describes it as a “unique” condition that causes hormonal spikes.
Texans owner Bob McNair met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to cite the syndrome and get Cushing’s four-game suspension either reduced, or lifted.
Cushing tested positive for human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) last year, a drug that is on the league’s banned substance list. Cushing insists he never took the drug. HCG is a drug used to restart testosterone production after a steroid cycle.
Cushing disclosed the details of the syndrome: "I think that's the final diagnosis we came up with," he said, "and a lot of doctors have supported why this has happened."
He insisted that he had a unique medical condition in the months leading up to the test, which ended up coming back positive.
"Every individual is genetically different," he said. "I had a unique situation where something like this occurred and we have the science to back it up. It's taken months. It's really beyond what we ever thought and it's beyond the regular medical doctor.”
Cushing would not reveal what type of scientific evidence would be shown to Roger Goodell. McNair has said he believes Cushing, while at the same time he supports the NFL’s drug testing program. Cushing was told after he failed the test that either body injections or tumours can cause the drug to get into your body. He has since taken all the tests the team required him to take, in concern of his health.
"He has cooperated with us 100 percent," McNair said. "We've satisfied ourselves that there are no health issues, and also that there was no evidence at all that he's done anything at all that was not proper."
Cushing was the defensive rookie of the year in 2009 after accumulating 133 tackles last season. He claims he does not expect Goodell to reduce the suspension, but he’s hoping he will.
"I've got 12 games I've got to get ready for," said Cushing. "Whatever decision is made, I've got to respect the decision of the commissioner. I'm staying open-minded today, but I'm not getting my hopes up. It's been an up-and-down couple of months, where I haven't been really sure what to expect with anything."
Cushing elected not to travel with McNair to meet with Goodell, instead choosing to stay with the team. Cushing stated the decision is out of his hands and is focused on improving his play and helping his team.
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