The obvious response to the allegation that Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis used a deer-antler extract containing the banned substance IGF-1 is that Ray Lewis has never failed a drug test.
“Every test I’ve ever took in the NFL? There’s never been a question if I’ve even thought about using anything,” Lewis proclaimed Tuesday.
The team said the same thing. “Ray has been randomly tested for banned substances and has never failed a test. He has never been notified of a failed test,” declared the Ravens.
But here’s the thing. The NFL tells PFT that IGF-1 can be detected only through blood testing. And there’s currently no blood testing for IGF-1.
So passing a drug test has nothing to do with the question of whether someone was or is using IGF-1. It’s no different than a player responding to allegations of HGH use by declaring that he’s never failed a drug test, since there still is no testing in place for HGH.
Thus, absent an admission from Lewis or other conclusive evidence of IGF-1 use, there’s no way this thing will ever go anywhere.