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.
They could have told him that snorting pencil shavings would get him on the field quicker and guess what, he's be snorting pencil shavings. Quack, quack, quack— Breaking Bad- Who cares, Tom Brady and Bill Belicheat stole their way to 3 SBs but no one’s still complaining. All athletes take something, banned or otherwise, to get themselves back in the game as quickly as possible. This is a non-story that will get the overzealous self-righteous up on their pedestals to spew venom.— realtruth
- us NFL fans are all hypocrites. we love these super human animal warriors going out there and the act outraged when it turns out, like we all knew all along, that they're using steroids and other banned substances. come on, take a look at Ray Lewis, do you really think he isn't using all sorts of things to become that way? I wouldn't be surprised if he was drinking urananium infused water.— Ryan
- Fatboy is absolutely correct. In most other corners of the sporting world (eg, outside the US), you cheat, you besmerch your team or your sport, there is hell to pay. Not so here. Wait till the big game is over, or the perp graduates, then give him a fine and move on. I would love to root for Flacco and the Ravens but because of the human that Ray Lewis is, I just can't. I'll be asleep by halftime.— boroughboy
- I can hardly believe that this fine example of a father,husband (6 wives, he must be fine), this upstanding citizen, this icon of all that is good in the NFL, would ever break the rules.
SI should be ashamed for even remotely suggestion that this "fine" human being would stoop so low.
Roger Goodall wouldn't beliece that for a minute!— eyesell - The guy played like weeks after he tore his tricep(!) Most people wouldn't be able to tie their shoes for six months. Have Lance, ARod, Clemens, etc., taught us nothing?— snakeplissken
- Who cares he killed someone. He's crazy like OJ.— Nezhy
- Its cobra hearts idiot (joking). If your injured and want to get back in good for you. Should have come to Philly.The real "cheater" resides in New England. Stole that ring from the Eagles with more than deer poop.— NYPHILLYPHAN
- Ray could get all emotional on us, all the while he will deny shooting anyone.— FletcherT
- Ray lewis is a murderer. He paid almost 4 million to the family's of the two kids he stabbed. He also has 6 kids by 4 different women.. Hey now.. that's a role model.. eh?— Ginatnation
- NFL should test this POS before the superbowl....— Ginatnation
- Accidentally clipped Ray with my car the other day. It's like he wanted to get hit.— Qman
- Considering he lied and got away with a murder he prob juices as well— Ginger2008
- Ray Lewis is a murderer. Plain and simple. 1996 in Atlanta. He was part of a murder here in Atlanta. He is a thug!!! Hope they lose big time.— rcsguy
- People who live in glass houses....I'm sure that dogs everywhere are relieved to find out that Philly is concerned about deer.— mboyd10
