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.
What a TNB situation— tartuffe
What would Durango do?- What would DJANGO do?
- BREAKING NEWS: NFL Commissioner, Roger Goddell has shut down the Stupid Bowl this sunday February 3rd 2013. The change is effective immediately so a comprehensive drug test can take place regarding Ravens linebacker, Ray Lewis.The game will be moved to Sunday March 3, 2013. The Commissioner has employed Travis Tagert of USASA to conduct the test. If Lewis is found guilty of using a banned substance, he will be suspended indefinitely, with no Stupid Bowl participation. He will be banned from the Stupid dome, with no contact with his team or anybody associated with it. The Ravens will be forced to forfeit all games that Lewis participated in, whereby, the Baltimore franchise will be disqualified from playing for the Lombardy Trophy. A three team sudden death playoff will take place between The Denver Broncos vs the Houston Texans. The winner will face the Patriots for the right to play the NFC representative....San Francisco 49er's. For further developments stay tuned to your local newscast.— frank castle
- 60 persent of the time, it works EVERY time!— pcempowerment
- Who cares!! get over the steroid issue already!!— kenny.328.usa
- I love how we're blasting the Ravens on here. I'm a diehard Iggles fans, yet it's pretty clear that we had the biggest thug team in the NFL over the past 2 seasons. As for Ray Lewis using a banned substance that is untraceable...bulletin: 90% of NFL players use HGH, which is also a banned substance, but cannot be detected by current NFL drug testing procedures. So, whether Lewis used or not, who cares. It's irrelevant.— vdstrading
- Really?
Where is the proof of shipment?
I doubt there is a videotape of Lewis speaking on the phone - perhaps a videotape of Ross from his end.
And, Sports Illustrated may be in real legal trouble with claiming to have heard an audio tape of Lewis speaking on the phone. You see, audio taping anyone, speaking on the phone from Maryland without their knowledge and permission is against the law - that may make Sports Illustrated an accomplice to a illegal act.— DennisinWV - I can't wait for the Deer Antler breakfast bars and sports drink...mmmm— bnchy
- He was never even accused of murder. He was accused of lying to the police to protect his companions who were accused of murder. (And the jury said those were practicing self-defense.)— erikmartin2
- He didn't stab anyone, you imbecile.— erikmartin2
- Amazing...I didn't realize the limo in Atlanta held all you people....! getting the facts straight would be a start for most of you. As far as role models go Vick seems like a class act....right along side Mr Rapelisberger. Oh I forgot...all the Eagles players are perfect fathers with no children out of wedlock right? Andy did a great job of being a father didn't he?— noclueforyou
- Do you honestly think that if he stabbed and killed someone that he'd be let go on a plea bargain? I highly doubt that any legal system is going to let a murderer walk away with just a slap on the wrist. You all watch way too many Law & Order shows.....— noclueforyou
- Deer antler spray? Football players are more stupid than I thought.— p-diddy
- Stabbing 2 people to death and fathering beaucoup kids with beaucoup babymamas: OK
Ingesting deer antlers: NOT OK
Way to stay classy, NFL!— Barbouze
