NFL Players Discover New Advantage With Deer Antlers

Oh Deer, NFL players have found a new way to gain a competitive advantage.

It seems some NFL players have found a way around the strict NFL anti doping (performance enhancing drug) laws enforced by the league. In a recent story from sportsgrid.com, Brad Cohen states "some athletes simply ingest crushed deer antlers."  Deer Antlers?  Gone are the days of your traditional steroids, human growth hormones and errrr "Vitamin B" shots.

Cohen continues "A number of NFL players have admitted to taking deer antlers for the IGF-1 it contains. IGF-1 a substance similar to human growth hormone."  A company in New Zealand has been harvesting the antler velvet for medical and performance enhancing purposes.  The deer rub their antlers to remove the velvet on the horns which in turn makes them sharp enough to protect the does.  The velvet is harvested and bottled for purchase at "$68" a bottle according to Dan Wetzel of Yahoo.com.  Wetzel quotes Jonathan Danaceau, a director at a World Doping Agency approved lab, “It’s similar to HGH in that it aids in recovery. It helps build tissue, and strengthen tissue – more than you can ever do by training alone. Any preparation that is not naturally occurring is banned. Taking IGF-1 through deer antler is banned as well.”

Though the substance is banned, it can only be detected using a blood test, which are not given in the NFL.  The NFL only uses a urine test to search for illegal substances in players.  Several players have been linked to the spray thus far according to the Wetzel story on Yahoo.com. The Ravens' Ray Lewis is linked to the spray and the Bengals' Roy Williams is quoted by Wetzel saying he uses it “Two to three times a day. My body felt good after using it. I did feel a difference.”

I guess athletes will do just about anything to gain a step in the sports world.  Maybe we will see Mark Sanchez on a deer hunt this off season if Rex and company fail to beat the Steelers tomorrow.  Gang green for a bright orange vest?    - Monte