Did Ray Lewis use banned deer-antler spray to return from triceps injury?
Sports Illustrated has published an in-depth examination of Sports with Alternatives to Steroids (S.W.A.T.S.) and the company's relationship with high-profile athletes, including Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis
Did Ray Lewis use banned deer-antler spray to return from triceps injury?
Sports Illustrated has published an in-depth examination of a company called Sports with Alternatives to Steroids (S.W.A.T.S.) and its relationship with high-profile athletes, including Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.
S.W.A.T.S. is an edgy sports science company run by a gym owner/former stripper. The company specializes in holographic stickers, deer-antler pills, and other, um, progressive means of enhancing a player's performance.
David Epstein and George Dohrmann write that S.W.A.T.S. owner Mitch Ross recorded a phone conversation with Lewis after the linebacker's injury in October.
Hours after he tore his triceps during an Oct. 14 home game against the Cowboys, Ravens All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis and Ross connected on the phone. Again, Ross videotaped the call.
On the call, the two allegedly discuss the treatment that Lewis would undergo in order to return to the field as quickly as possible.
Ross prescribed a deluxe program, including holographic stickers on the right elbow; copious quantities of the powder additive; sleeping in front of a beam-ray light programmed with frequencies for tissue regeneration and pain relief; drinking negatively charged water; a 10-per-day regimen of the deer-antler pills that will "rebuild your brain via your small intestines" (and which Lewis said he hadn't been taking, then swallowed four during the conversation); and spritzes of deer-antler velvet extract (the Ultimate Spray) every two hours.
"Spray on my elbow every two hours?" Lewis asked.
"No," Ross said, "under your tongue."
Toward the end of the talk, Lewis asked Ross to "just pile me up and just send me everything you got, because I got to get back on this this week."
The deer-antler spray contains IGF-1, which is on the NFL's list of banned substances. Christopher Key - one of the S.W.A.T.S. guys - described the company's products to a group of Alabama football players before the BCS National Championship in 2012. He recorded the conversation.
"You're familiar with HGH, correct?" asked Key, referring to human growth hormone. "It's converted in the liver to IGF-1." IGF-1, or -insulin-like growth factor, is a natural, anabolic hormone that stimulates muscle growth. "We have deer that we harvest out of New Zealand," Key said. "Their antlers are the fastest-growing substance on planet Earth . . . because of the high concentration of IGF-1. We've been able to freeze dry that out, extract it, put it in a sublingual spray that you shake for 20 seconds and then spray three [times] under your tongue. . . . This stuff has been around for almost 1,000 years, this is stuff from the Chinese."
Epstein and Dohrmann walk you through the background on S.W.A.T.S., the company's alleged relationship with numerous NFL players, the scene prior to the BCS Championship, and Ross' ties to Ray Lewis.
- Hahahahahahahahahaha!
— Ino_Karate - Nothing like making a murderer who only got off because of a plea deal the face of your team. Keep it classy B-more.— Taxpaying Voter
- Wow, this stuff must really work. Where can I get some?— JBirks
- If it isn't harmful to the user, but it's helpful in how the human body repairs itself, THEN WHY IS IT BANNED? People just accept a fact that because it's a banned substance that automatically, it's bad for the user. None of this stuff is illegal to purchase, so let the NFL answer the question of why it's a banned substance.— beegal99
- Ray Lewis did so indeed get accused of murder and was never charged after paying off many people.— PhillyTaz
- Can't make this stuff up!! Why not just equal the playing field, and not ban ANYTHING. Not a wonder professional rugby players die with laughter at our "athletes'.— dogman5
- Only thing this proves is that even Ray Lewis isn't immune to the smooth talking of a snake oil salesman!— atibamanii
- Who record a conversation with out the other person knowing I hope he gets sued and thrown in jail. Next time save the blue dress— Joe Bennett
- usually athletes will take a shot of hormones to mask the ban substances...this would prove to be true by the massive amounts of crying after each game— jdowney47
- lewis has been using the spray for years without any side effects. except when he's driving at night and oncoming headlights are on him, he just freezes, he can't move. and he keeps talking about when he retires working for santa pulling a sleigh.— bluefish
- Deer Velvet has been used in asia for hundreds if not thousands of years.I t stimulates the blood and increased blood flow helps the body heal itself quicker.
It is also has been used over the years as a sexual stimulant esp in China-again for hundreds of years .
Why back when i recall a horse trainer puttingDV powder in with the horses feed almost daily and their coats were always shiny-and he was a successful trainer and his mounts never tested bad.— HO HUM - Would someone please send a game commission officer over to my house immediately? I just saw Ray Lewis in the back yard eating my rhododendrons!— dasher
- Uhh. This guy tapes all of his conversations and releases them to the press? I can't imagine that's a really effective way of driving your business when you're doing things that are banned in the pro game. How stupid is Ray Lewis that he agreed to get recorded doing something like this?— fightonphilly
- this was discovered by Troy Aikman in 1990 when he started to snort bull semen for kicks!— iloveprimerib
- The guy covers up for murderers or might even be one and you think he would not break NFL banned substance rules?
Oh and I'd like to see the NCAA look into the Alabama thing.— towman
