Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Aquib Talib said he took an Adderall pill without a prescription, which led to a suspension for the next four games.
Adderall is a drug used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In recent years, it has become popular especially among young people who abuse the drug by using it as a stimulant to help them focus and study.
“Talib’s suspension without pay for violating the NFL’s policy on performing enhancing substances starts with Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
“Around the beginning of training camp, I made a mistake by taking an Adderall pill without a prescription,” Talib said in a statement. “This is especially regrettable because, for the past several months, with Coach Schiano’s help, I’ve worked very hard to improve myself — professionally and personally — as a player and a man. I am truly sorry to my teammates, coaches and Buccaneers fans, and I’m disappointed in myself.”
“We are disappointed to learn that Aqib Talib will be suspended for four games,” Bucs’ head coach Greg Schiano said. “I have spoken with Aqib, and he knows that he made a poor decision that let our team down. Certainly, other players will have the opportunity to step up while he serves this suspension.”Talib will also miss games against New Orleans, Minnesota and Oakland. He is eligible to return on Nov. 5, according to a statement from the NFL.
“I will work diligently every day of this suspension to stay in top football shape and be ready to help this team in the second half of the season,” Talib said. “I have chosen to be immediately accountable for the situation I put myself in, which is why I will not exercise my appeal rights and will begin serving the suspension immediately.”
The Bucs placed Talib on the reserve/suspended list and promoted defensive end Markus White from the team’s practice squad.
White was a seventh-round pick by the Washington Redskins in 2011 and played in two games as a rookie. This season, he played in one game for the Redskins and has spent two weeks on the Bucs practice squad.
