Colts running back suspended 4 games for PEDs, issues public apology

By Ross Kelly June 30, 2018 at 9:54am

Lost in the hoopla of Tampa Bay’s Jameis Winston being suspended three games was another NFL suspension, this one being four games.

Robert Turbin of the Indianapolis Colts announced via social media that he has been suspended four games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

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Turbin didn’t say what substance he used but admitted to making a mistake and took ownership of his actions.

“It absolutely kills me that I allowed this to happen,” he said. “I will continue to work diligently on correcting my error, assuring that this will never happen again.”

Turbin is entering his third season with the Colts after playing in six games last year. He ended the season on injured reserve after hurting his arm in October.

With the Colts not bringing back Frank Gore, Turbin was expected to battle Marlon Mack for the starting running back position. He had even been taking reps with the first-team offense during offseason workouts, according to the Indy Star.

“I think he brings an element of size and power and strength to the mix,” coach Frank Reich told the Indy Star. “We have Nyheim (Hines) and (Josh Ferguson) and Marlon, when he gets back (from shoulder surgery), who has some juice.

Will the Colts make the playoffs after going 4-12 last season?

“Then we have a couple guys who kind of provide us with some size and power. And Turb is one of those guys. And he’s shown it. But what I like about him is not only has he shown that size and power and strength, he’s smart, he’s good in protections and he’s good enough of a route runner that he can be a three-down back.”

Even though the suspension is devastating news for Turbin, he didn’t let the news of it keep him from bringing smiles to kids’ faces.

On the same day he announced he was suspended, Turbin showed up at the Oakland Medical Center and visited with children facing much worse situations than his.

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Turbin will lose $310,294 in salary and will sit out games against the Bengals, Redskins, Eagles and Texans.

According to USA Today, Turbin is the fifth Colt to earn a PED violation since the 2014 season. The others were LaRon Landry, D’Qwell Jackson, Robert Mathis and Arthur Jones.

From his social media apology, it doesn’t sound like Turbin will appeal the suspension à la the Patriots’ Julian Edelman.

Thus, Turbin will star the 2018 season on the reserve/suspended list alongside other players such as Mark Ingram, Thomas Davis and Winston.

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