Last month, free agent linebacker Larry Grant was suspended four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Now Grant has issued an apology in which he said he didn’t knowingly take a banned substance.
“I’ve waited far too long to say my apologies to my children, my family, and friends, the 49ers organization, the buckeye nation, and my fans,” Grant said in the statement, provided to PFT. “Failing a drug test is far out of my character and although I never knowingly took a performance enhancing drug I take full responsibility for what goes in my body and more importantly for the embarrassment of a failed drug test.”
Grant did not say which substance he apparently unknowingly took, or how it happened. But while he isn’t currently under contract, he did say he still hopes to be on the field during the 2013 season, once his four-game suspension is up.
“It’s my goal by issuing this statement to clear my name and more importantly to be judged by what happens to me in the future,” Grant said. “I hope that my family, my football family, all my fans, and Niner Empire can forgive me for this situation and I look forward to a successful 2013 season.”
Last year Grant played in all 19 games for the 49ers, including the playoffs and Super Bowl, but didn’t get many snaps on defense and was primarily a special teams player.