Ray Lewis May Have Used a Deer-Antler Spray Containing a Banned Substance to Heal His Torn Triceps

He could be in big trouble.

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Complex Original

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Is Ray Lewis going to be suspended for the Super Bowl? Uh, not likely. But, if the NFL is serious about cleaning up the game of football, then they're going to have a few questions for the Ravens linebacker about a new article that Sports Illustrated just published.

In the article, Mitch Ross, the owner of a company called S.W.A.T.S. (Sports with Alternatives to Steroids), discusses how Lewis contacted him back in October after he tore his triceps muscle. During their conversation, which Ross videotaped, the S.W.A.T.S. owner told Lewis to use several of the company's products, including holographic stickers, negatively-charged water, deer-antler pills, and a deer-antler spray, to heal his injury. And, Lewis asked him to send him everything.

"Just pile me up and just send me everything you got," Lewis told Ross. "I got to get back on this this week."

The problem? The deer-antler pills and spray both contain IGF-1, which is featured on the list of substances that have been banned by the NFL. And, when SI approached Lewis about using the S.W.A.T.S. products recently, he admitted that he had used some of their stuff but wouldn't talk extensively about the deer-antler spray or pills.

Does that mean Lewis is guilty of using banned substances? No. But, it does mean that the NFL should be sitting down with him, like, right now to talk about what he did and did not use to help heal his torn triceps. Otherwise, there's probably going to be a cloud hanging over Super Bowl XLVII—and Lewis himself—in the years to come.

UPDATE: A Ravens official told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio that Lewis has not tested positive for any banned substances this season. Lewis also denied using the banned substance in question during Super Bowl media day earlier today. "I wouldn't give that report or [Ross] any of my press," Lewis said. "He's not worthy of that. Next question."

RELATED: The NFL's Hottest New Performance-Enhancing Drug: Deer Antlers!
RELATED: The Biggest Alleged (and Confirmed) Steroid-Fueled Broken Records in Sports History

[via SI]

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