STATEMENT BY AN NFL SPOKESPERSON:

Antonio Gates of the San Diego Chargers has been suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2015 regular season for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances.

Gates will be eligible to return to the Chargers’ active roster on Monday, October 5 following the team’s October 4 game against the Cleveland Browns.

Gates is eligible to participate in all offseason and preseason practices and games.

[Note: The NFL policy on performance enhancing substances is posted on nflmedia.com. From the home page, click on “Resources” and then “About the NFL.”]

STATEMENT FROM THE SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

RE: ANTONIO GATES SUSPENSION

“We are tremendously disappointed for our team and our fans as well as Antonio, but no more disappointed than Antonio is with himself.  Antonio is a member of the Chargers’ family and we will continue to support him 100-percent.  We have the utmost confidence he will stay in excellent shape for the season and be ready to go when he returns in Week 5.  While it’s unfortunate to not have him to start the season, we have complete confidence our tight end group will continue to play at a high level.”

STATEMENT FROM ANTONIO GATES

“In my 12 years in the NFL, I have taken tremendous pride in upholding the integrity of the NFL shield and all that it entails.  I have taken extreme care of my body with a holistic approach and I have never knowingly ingested a substance that was banned by the NFL.  In an effort to recover from this past season, I used supplements and holistic medicines, and unfortunately, I have now learned that those substances always present a risk because they may contain banned substances even if the ingredient list doesn’t reflect them. As an NFL veteran and team leader, I should have done my due diligence to ensure that what I was taking for recovery was within the NFL guidelines. I understand that I am responsible for what is in my body and I have always believed that ignorance is no excuse when it comes to these issues. I take full responsibility for my actions.  I’d like to express my sincere apologies to the Chargers, my teammates, coaches, fans and the league who have always supported me and expected and gotten nothing but the highest level of integrity from me.”

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