According to a report from the Tulsa World, Oklahoma Sooners sophomore defensive end Amani Bledsoe is suing the NCAA over his current suspension for PED use. Bledsoe tested positive for clomiphene, which can be used as a performance-enhancer because of the fact that it can block estrogen. The suspension began last October and is scheduled to end on Oct. 5. The lawsuit asks for the reinstatement of one year of eligibility as well as reimbursement for court costs and attorney fees. You can read the full report here.
In short, the lawsuit claims that Bledsoe consumed a large scoop of Inner Armour protein powder that belonged to an unnamed teammate and later purchased protein powder of a different brand. After submitting to a random test on Oct. 5, Bledsoe’s urine tested positive for the banned substance.
Here’s where it gets a bit interesting:
The lawsuit states Bledsoe submitted the proteins and multi-vitamins he had recently taken and submitted them to athletic trainer Scott Anderson. Bledsoe and OU submitted the substances to an independent laboratory in Nashville, Tenn.
Testing revealed the Inner Armour substance contained clomiphene, but Bledsoe’s other powder and vitamins did not. After the testing, the laboratory purchased and tested another container of Inner Armour, and the test came back negative.
Bledsoe appealed his NCAA suspension on Nov. 28, and on Dec. 5, NCAA officials notified OU that Bledsoe’s appeal had been denied.
Cody Stavenhagen of the Tulsa World
Regardless of the outcome, Bledsoe will be eligible to play in Oklahoma’s Oct. 7 game against Iowa State, and the talented DE will provide Oklahoma’s defensive front with some quality depth. Bledsoe came to OU in 2016 in as a four-star prospect out of Lawrence, Kansas, and appeared in six games, recording three tackles and a pass breakup before being suspended.