As former college stars prepare for the draft, they all seem to have one thing in common, they are staying hydrated.
Some of whom may be too hydrated.
Because for the second time this week, a college star expected to be taken early in the draft has tested positive for a diluted urine sample.
First it was Alabama’s Reuben Foster, who tested positive last week, and yesterday it was former Michigan star Jabril Peppers, who failed a drug test at the NFL Scouting Combine last month—and both blame the result of being ill and drinking an excessive amount of fluids.
“Peppers was being pumped with fluids, drinking 8-10 bottles of water before he went to bed, because he was the first guy to work out two days for the LBs and DBs. He had to go through that first day, come back on second day, and that was the fear. So Peppers was pounding water and under the weather. He never failed a drug test in his life, nor tested positive before for any substance," as explained by a statement from his agent.
A diluted sample counts as a failed test because it can indicate a player was trying to flush out his system to mask having used some sort of substance. Interestingly enough, Peppers is the second star player in a week to claim his positive test was triggered by excessive hydrating due to being ill.
Sure hope both of these young men can figure it out as there is a huge monetary difference between being picked during the opening night of the draft, in the first round, and any time after that.
And you’d hate to think these guys were pissing away all that money.
Peppers was once considered a lock for the top 10 of the NFL Draft, but he has seen his stock fall in recent months. At least one team would reportedly love to have him late in the first round, so it will be interesting to see if the positive test has any negative impact.
Source: NY Daily News