San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Victor Bolden Jr. served a four-game suspension without pay at the start of the season due to a violation of the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances. It cost him a quarter of his salary for the season. Bolden signed a three-year deal with San Francisco last year as an undrafted free agent.
"Unknowingly, I used a supplement that was on the NFL's banned substance list," Bolden said via a statement issued by the team in June. "As a professional athlete, I take full responsibility for not verifying the ingredients of the supplement. In the future, I will be much better educated when choosing what to put in my body."
Bolden potentially lost over $138,000 in wages due to the suspension, according to Over The Cap — a significant sum for an undrafted second-year player. He is trying to recover some of that money by suing Rogue Nutrition, the company that creates the product Trident Creatine, according to a report from TMZ.
"Professional athletes must be meticulous in their supplement choices," general manager John Lynch said in June via the previously mentioned statement. "We know Victor is disappointed, but we hope this is a reminder to all our players how important it is to make educated decisions on what to put in their bodies."
Bolden started using the product in February after he was reportedly assured it was safe. He tested positive for Ostarine, which is banned by the NFL, in March.
Bolden had the product tested, and the results reportedly showed that it did contain Ostarine. He is seeking compensation for his lost wages and other damages, according to TMZ.
Bolden has one reception this season for 10 yards since returning in Week 5.
H/t to Kirk Larrabee of 24/7 Sports for the find.