Obafemi makes ‘honest mistake'

<font size="2">

<p align="justify">The Chicago Bears knew Obafemi Ayanbadejo had failed a drug

<p align="justify">test before they signed the free-agent fullback from Arizona. Thus,

<p align="justify">Thursday's news that he will be suspended the first four games of the NFL

<p align="justify">season was expected.

<p align="justify">What Ayanbadejo doesn't like is that the NFL policy on anabolic steroids and

<p align="justify">related substances. He said it doesn't allow any leeway to differentiate

<p align="justify">between those who inject steroids and those who take a supplement with no

<p align="justify">intent to improve performance.

<p align="justify">"A guy makes an honest mistake in judgment, is not trying to cheat the game,

<p align="justify">not trying to get an advantage, not trying to increase his ability to run

<p align="justify">faster or jump higher or lift more weight," he said. "The NFL needs to give

<p align="justify">the arbitrator who hears these appeals the ability to use his subjective

<p align="justify">view."

<p align="justify">An arbitrator denied Ayanbadejo's appeal earlier this week. He had his case

<p align="justify">heard three days before training camp began. He will be out from Sept. 1-30,

<p align="justify">but can participate in all preseason games and practices before then.

<p align="justify">Head coach Lovie Smith said he was convinced Ayanbadejo was worth signing

<p align="justify">"from listening to him. He was up front right away. He told us what happened

<p align="justify">and we took it from there. Now we know the ruling."

<p align="justify">Ayanbadejo failed a drug test in January for taking Max LMG, which he said

<p align="justify">is an over-the-counter supplement that is anti-estrogen and might increase

<p align="justify">testosterone levels. The nine-year NFL veteran said he has taken 60-some odd

<p align="justify">tests and never failed any before. He said he passed tests in November and

<p align="justify">December, then in February, March and April. He was notified in April of the

<p align="justify">results, and then was released by Arizona after spending three seasons

<p align="justify">there.

<p align="justify">"My intent was not to do anything wrong," he said. "I did not take a

<p align="justify">steroid, and I would never do anything to embarrass my brother (Brandon, a

<p align="justify">special teams ace for the Bears), my family, my friends, my teammates, the

<p align="justify">people that supported me my whole career."

<p align="justify">He notes that people will hear "on ESPN of the NFL Network" that he failed a

<p align="justify">steroid test, and that bothers him. He agreed to meet with the media before

<p align="justify">dinner Thursday night to discuss the situation.

<p align="justify">"I have nothing to hide, so I might as well get this done," he said.

<p align="justify">"I'm pretty frustrated at this point, but I'll do my time. I'll disappear

<p align="justify">into the woodwork and just work hard and hopefully on Oct. 1 after this is

<p align="justify">done, I'll be able to come back here and keep working and playing."

<p align="justify">Brother Brandon found out when they were partying at 2 a.m. in Las Vegas.

<p align="justify">"He said, 'You know what? I have something to tell you,'" Brandon said. "It

<p align="justify">kind of ruined my night. I was really upset.

<p align="justify">"We're just glad it's over with and he knows where he stands now."

<p align="justify">Brandon said the Bears' stance on the matter made him feel good.

<p align="justify">"I think the Bears realize he made a mistake and was not trying to cheat,"

<p align="justify">he said. "It shows a lot about the Bears -- they wanted to take a risk on

<p align="justify">him even though there's going to be backlash from what they did."

<p align="justify">Reed Schreck is the NFL Writer for the Rockford Register Star. He can be

reached at 815-987-1381 or rschreck@rrstar.com.

</font>