Ray Lewis PED Accusation: Player is 'Agitated' and Denies Involvement.
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said he was "agitated" as he defended his name against claims that he used performance-enhancing drugs for a torn tricep injury in October 2012.
On Tuesday, Sports Illustrated reported that the 37-year-old who helped his team to the 2013 Super Bowl used a banned substance to help him recover from his injury faster. Lewis denied the claim made by Mitch Ross, co-owner of Sports With Alternatives to Steroids (S.W.A.T.S) who said the athlete used a deer-antler velvet spray.
Lewis spoke to reporters at a morning media conference on Wednesday and called the claims "embarrassing," and insisted Ross made the story up for publicity.
"I've said it before, I've said it a million times, the reason I'm smiling because it is so funny and absurd," Lewis said. "I never took what he said or whatever I was supposed to. And it's said that someone could have such attention on this stage."
Raven's head coach John Harbaugh said he spoke to Lewis about the report, but had no reason to believe it.
"I understand that's something that he has never been involved with," Harbaugh said ."I think it's kind of too bad that someone was given the opportunity to get some free publicity out there, undeserved and unearned, really for no reason."
In his defense, Ross said he even recorded a phone call with Lewis after the player hurt his arm in a game against Dallas in October, according to NBC.
"It's a shame that Ray is denying taking it. The NFL is uneducated. This is not a steroid. It's not illegal. Ray is not a cheater. He did it the right way," Ross added.
Lewis said Wednesday that he's sure his teammates won't be side-tracked by the Sports Illustrated report: "I don't need it. My teammates don't need it. The 49ers don't need. Nobody needs it."
Baltimore plays San Francisco in the Super Bowl on Sunday for the final game of Lewis' career.
