Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson faces a four-game suspension for a positive drug test linked to having Crohn’s disease, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com
Bills' OT Seantrel Henderson's pending substance-abuse suspension is related to a treatment he received for his Crohn's disease.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 7, 2016
The 24-year-old violated the league’s substance abuse policy due to a treatment for the disease. Henderson, drafted in 2014, was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease last season. The diagnosis caused him to miss the final five games of 2015.
Crohn’s disease is a serious matter. The inflammatory disease harshly affects the intestines. According to The Palm Beach Post, Henderson had stabbing sensations in his stomach, which caused him to vomit regularly. He lost 50 pounds from the disease, and eventually had to have 80 diseased centimeters of his large and small intestines removed.
“You can’t take anything for granted,” Henderson told The Palm Beach Post. “Last year could have been the last year I’d ever play football. At one point, the doctors were saying I’d have to have that ileostomy bag on the rest of my life. My intestines were so poisonous on the inside. But I healed up really fast. I’m lucky to be working out and looking toward playing again.”
Henderson doesn’t have a squeaky clean record. In 2014, he failed a drug test for marijuana at the NFL Draft Combine, according to Schefter. He was additionally suspended while at the University of Miami for similar failed drug tests.
Drug suspensions keep on rolling in for the Bills. Running back Karlos Williams received a four-game suspension for violating the league’s drug policy back in July before the team released him. In August, defensive lineman Marcell Dareus was suspended (for the second time) four games for violating the policy.
Henderson’s situation is starkly different than Williams or Dareus’, however. Taking necessary medication for a serious disease shouldn’t equal a suspension. The drug might be prohibited by the NFL, but if it’s needed for Henderson’s well-being, a suspension would be cruel. However, if he didn’t disclose the usage to the league, it’s on him.
Henderson is appealing the suspension.
[ESPN]
