Last year, University of Oklahoma defensive lineman Amani Bledsoe was suspended after one of his urine samples tested positive for clomiphene, which is an NCAA-banned substance. As Deadspin points out, clomiphene is typically used by women to treat infertility issues.
One thing led to another, and after Bledsoe’s appeal was denied, he was suspended for the final six games of last season and first four of this season.
Well, Bledsoe is now suing the NCAA over the one-year ban, as he claims the NCAA “arbitrarily and capriciously enforced the NCAA bylaws and policies on drug testing and denied [his] appeal.”
Bledsoe is suing for his losing a year of eligibility that he hopes to get back. On top of that, the sophomore is also suing the NCAA for attorney and other fees.
The appeal process that Bledsoe adhered to resulted in him turning over all of the protein powder and multivitamins he uses in order for testing. The testing showed that one of the proteins Bledsoe uses has a small amount of clomiphene, although that wasn’t on the product’s label.
In the lawsuit, which was filed in Cleveland County district court, Bledsoe says when he learned of the positive test he was “shocked” and “confused.” The lineman also detailed the order of the events that led to him acquiring the protein powder that got him into this situation.
Bledsoe said he received the protein powder from a teammate who offered it to him because he didn’t have a car to drive off campus and buy his own. Said teammate is not named in the suit to protect his identity, one can assume. Two weeks after taking the protein powder, which Bledsoe says in the suit he had previously used, he tested positive for clomiphene.
Also noted in Bledsoe’s appeal is that when an independent lab tested the can of protein powder Bledsoe believes resulted in the positive test, it did contain a little bit of clomiphene. After that, the same independent lab tested a new unopened can of the powder and that one didn’t have any clomiphene in it, adding more uncertainty to how exactly the first package ended up with a banned substance inside.
All of this was presented to the NCAA drug test appeal panel, but they still denied Bledsoe’s appeal, resulting in his suspension.
[Deadspin]
