Broncos linebacker Von Miller is in the process of appealing a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy, but according to a new report, Miller did not fail a drug test.
“He didn’t test positive for anything,” an unnamed person with knowledge of the situation told USA Today.
We’ll likely never know all the details of Miller’s case, just like we never know all the details of most NFL suspensions for violations of the substance-abuse policy, because the league’s confidentiality rules keep that information quiet. The very fact that we’re talking about this before Miller’s appeal has been heard shows that someone violated the confidentiality rules by leaking the news that he’s facing a suspension, but when these leaks come out, they usually don’t tell the full story.
But if it’s true that Miller didn’t fail a drug test, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll win his appeal. It’s possible to violate the policy without testing positive by, for instance, refusing to take a test or submitting a diluted urine sample.
So while the news that Miller did not test positive might seem to back up his claim that he did nothing wrong, it still remains to be seen whether Miller can win his appeal and be on the field in Week One.