The NFL has informed the NFL Players Association on Monday that the four players accused of using performance-enhancing drugs in an Al Jazeera America report – James Harrison, Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, and Mike Neal – must be interviewed by Aug. 25 or face suspension, in a letter obtained by multiple media outlets.
If any of the players are suspended – which would be separate from any future discipline imposed under the NFL’s drug policy – commissioner Roger Goodell would make the decision as to when they could be reinstated.
Here's the key section of the NFL letter. If players suspended, Roger Goodell would make call on reinstatement. pic.twitter.com/X87y3wNe7f
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 15, 2016
Al Jazeera’s report included accusations by Charles Sly, a former intern at an anti-aging clinic. The NFLPA has demanded the league provide “credible evidence” to interview the four players after Sly recanted his accusations.
Harrison, Matthews, and Peppers were expected to be interviewed on the first day of training camp, but no such meetings took place when camp opened at the end of July.
