Being avid observers of the sports world, there are many instances where we find our minds blown at the sheer athleticism and incomprehensible strength displayed by professional athletes. However, sometimes there is more to the story. As was the case of Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who wound up suspended for the first six games of the 2022 NFL season after violating the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy. And, now, the same seems to be happening with one more NFL player.

Maybe the NFL suspected something similar in the case of a certain New Orleans Saints wide receiver whose recent workout video pushed the league to test him for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).

Why was Michael Thomas tested?

Just a month back, the New Orleans Saints extended wide receiver Michael Thomas’ time with the team. Thomas received a one-year, $10 million contract, which could go up to $15 million. The decision came as Thomas still recovers from a toe surgery he had to undergo after getting injured in the 2022 season. While Thomas is yet to be cleared by the medical team, he is hard at work preparing his body for the tuff road ahead.

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Recently, a video of Michael Thomas surfaced on the Internet and it was nothing short of jaw-dropping.

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In the video, Michael Thomas could be seen deadlifting 530 pounds, and the entire NFL world found themselves scratching their heads. Despite having witnessed inhumane feats time and again, most fans felt that Thomas was maybe pushing the envelope a bit too much, and the league shared these views.

Surely enough, Michael Thomas was called upon by the NFL to appear for administering the Performance Enhancing Substance test on Tuesday morning. The Saints star couldn’t help but laugh, calling them the “Feds” when sharing the text message he received.

Thomas hasn’t been the only player targeted by these ‘random’ drug tests as earlier Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf was called on for similar reasons.

Anti-doping rules

Despite the NFL completely prohibiting the use of PEDs, athletes still get caught indulging in them. Since 2001, NFL players have been suspended for performance-enhancing drugs and related substances at least 258 times, and this data only reflects up to the 2021 season.

While most people think of PEDs as either steroids, marijuana, or Adderall, the reality lies elsewhere. The NFL allows an exemption for Adderall while prohibiting every other recreational or medicinally non-approved drug.

In a nutshell, just because a player fails a drug test it does not mean he was indulging in PEDs, rather the league tries to understand the exact substance that caused the failed test and the policy the player is being disciplined under.

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