NFL star Jeremy Kerley raises eyebrows with failed drugs test explanation: ‘Maybe a ghost did it’

The New York Jets wide receiver had a rather unconventional answer when asked how a performance-enhancing drug had entered his system earlier this season

Luke Brown
Friday 15 December 2017 08:51 EST
Comments
The Jets wide receiver has an interesting explanation for his failed test
The Jets wide receiver has an interesting explanation for his failed test (Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

An American football player has blamed his recent failed drugs test on mysterious supernatural forces, replying “a ghost may have done it” when asked how a banned substance entered his system.

New York Jets wide receiver Jeremy Kerley was suspended on November 6 after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs and was handed a four-game suspension.

When he was suspended, Kerley released a strongly-worded statement claiming that he did not knowingly take a banned substance, pledging to “figure out what caused the positive test” in an attempt to clear his name.

However when speaking to reporters for the first-time since his suspension, he raised eyebrows by suggesting the Ghost of Christmas Past had something to do with the failed test.

“I don’t know,” Kerley said when asked about what had caused him to have a banned substance in his system. “There’s a lot of ghosts around here. Ghost put it in there. You know, the ghost of Christmas past? … I don’t know.”

Kerley also admitted that he had failed to find the time to analyse his results, despite pledging to conduct his own private investigation into the failed substance when the news of his suspension first broke.

Legal note: There is no suggestion this particular ghost is to blame for the failed test
Legal note: There is no suggestion this particular ghost is to blame for the failed test (Getty)

“I didn't have time to investigate it,” Kerley admitted. “It is what it is. We're back now.”

He later added: “If I knew exactly what (the substance) was, I probably would have known the consequences behind it, so I probably wouldn't have took it. But it's in the wind now.

“It's in the past. Learn from it and move on.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in