New England Patriots tight end Benjamin Watson announced on Facebook on Sunday that he will be serving a four-game suspension for using a banned substance.
In the Facebook post, Watson provided context for the use of the substance, testosterone. He had been planning on retiring after the 2018 season and met with doctors to develop a treatment plan for recovery for a number of issues that were ailing him. Those doctors prescribed him testosterone, which is a legal supplement in the United States but is banned in the NFL.
“On March 29, nine days after I started therapy, I was randomly tested under our substance policies,” Watson wrote on Facebook. “I complied out of habit, never thinking in that moment I’d want to come back. In late April, some clubs expressed interest in me playing and after much deliberation and prayer, I decided I wanted to return. Considering myself previously retired, I had forgotten all about my test in March until I got a letter on May 3rd saying my results were positive.”
Watson disclosed this failed test result with the Patriots, who gave him a one-year deal with the knowledge he’d spend four games on suspension.
He was at the team’s organized team activities last week and is fighting for a roster spot with tight ends Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Matt LaCosse, Ryan Izzo and Andrew Beck.
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