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NFL has no idea what drug Patriots star Edelman took - report

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Patriots Nation was rocked last week with the news that wide receiver Julian Edelman was facing a suspension after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

Now more details are coming in, but not all of the details, such as the exact drug that triggered a positive test.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that Edelman’s positive test was triggered by a substance that wasn’t immediately recognized.

“I was told Edelman’s result was triggered by a substance that wasn’t immediately recognizable, and there are scientists analyzing it,” Breer reported.

The NFL might also still be analyzing the sample, though that information hasn’t been confirmed.

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According to NBC Sports, it’s not unprecedented for drug testers to need additional time to analyze a substance. In 2003, for example, four Raiders tested positive for tetrahydrogestrinone, which wasn’t initially detectable in urine tests.

“It was only after the lengthy Balco investigation that drug testers re-tested stored urine samples and detected the substance,” NBC reported.

In regard to Edelman, it’s important to note that he violated the performance-enhancing drug policy and not the substance abuse policy.

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That rules out Adderall or other stimulants as the possible substance, as those fall under the “substance abuse” umbrella, at least during the offseason.

When news of Edelman’s suspension first broke, he apologized but also admitted that he didn’t know what happened or why a positive test was triggered.

Former Patriots linebacker Matt Chatham went a step further and called out the NFL for suspending Edelman without knowing what they are suspending him for.

As it stands, New England will likely be without their No. 1 receiver for the first four games of the 2018 season.

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Edelman missed all of last year with a torn ACL suffered during the preseason, but averaged 89 receptions and 957 receiving yards over the previous four seasons.

Not only will New England have to fill Edelman’s void for four games, but they will also have to replace Brandin Cooks, Danny Amendola and Dion Lewis, all of whom departed the team this offseason.

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Ross Kelly has been a sportswriter since 2009.
Ross Kelly has been a sportswriter since 2009 and previously worked for ESPN, CBS and STATS Inc. A native of Louisiana, Ross now resides in Houston.
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