Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing said Thursday that he neither injected nor ingested any banned substances, even though he tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
Cushing was suspended for four games without pay last week for violating the NFL's drug policy. His appeal was denied.
Cushing confirmed that he tested positive for HCG, a fertility drug that's on the league's banned substance list.
Costly for Cushing
Brian Cushing might lose more than four games.
He also could miss out on $950,000 in future bonuses, writes Jason La Canfora, who examined the Texans LB's contract. **More ...**
"The question of how it got into my body is still unclear," he said. "It's something that I'm very personally concerned about, just the fact that how it's there and what's going to determine it from happening again, and that's something we're going to have to medically investigate."
Cushing said that after failing the test, he was told HCG can get in your body from injecting it or because of tumors. He said this information led him to believe he had tumors, although he didn't say what kind.
"I personally know I'm not injecting myself with anything," he said. "I played the whole season thinking this could not only be my last season, but my last year."
Cushing added that he's concerned about his health and plans to undergo tests to see "how this got into my body" and to try to make sure it doesn't happen again.
In a statement Saturday, Cushing said the test indicated "the presence of a non-steroidal banned substance." He said he took the test in September and was notified of the results in October.
Dr. Gary Wadler, who leads the committee that determines the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned-substances list, said there have been cases of malignant testicular tumors producing HCG. Still, those cases are "extremely rare."
"If he had a tumor that produced HCG, he wouldn't be playing football," Wadler said of Cushing. "He would be under treatment for a malignant tumor."
Wadler also noted that if Cushing tested positive once because of such a tumor, HCG levels would be consistently elevated and he would continue to have positive tests.
"Malignant testicular tumors producing HCG are rather lethal," Wadler said. "It is a fairly aggressive tumor and you're not playing in the NFL with one."
Cushing retained The Associated Press NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award Wednesday in a revote prompted by the penalty. He won the original balloting in January with 39 votes out of 50 from a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL. This time, Cushing received 18 votes to 13 for Buffalo Bills safety Jairus Byrd and 12 for Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews.
Cushing is offended that some in the media have called for him to give up the award.
"Why? I know I didn't do anything," he said. "I earned that award. I did everything I could. I was disappointed with the revote, but I have to respect the process again. But, no, I would never. I know what I did."
Cushing did lose his spot on the All-Pro second team to the Chicago Bears' Lance Briggs, who tied the Pittsburgh Steelers' James Harrison for fourth place (two votes apiece). That means both will join the Steelers' LaMarr Woodley as the second team's outside linebackers.
Fellow Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans spoke on behalf of Cushing's teammates after Cushing spoke. Ryans, the 2006 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, also was pleased that Cushing retained the award.
"It was very important for him, it was a huge award, and I was happy that he got it again and he deserved it again," Ryans said. "He was the best rookie defensive player there was, and he went out and proved that. Coming in this year after he's gone those four games, I don't see any drop-off in what Cushing is going to bring to us. You'll see that same level of play."
Cushing read from a statement before taking questions. Texans coach Gary Kubiak and general manager Rick Smith sat nearby, but neither commented before leaving.
Cushing said he was sorry that he had become a distraction for the team.
"That's the thing I'm regretful about, is the fact that it's taken away from the Texans' organization," Cushing said. "That's not going to change our goal. That's not going to change our achievements. We're going full speed ahead toward a championship."
The Texans have never been to the playoffs, but they finished 9-7 in 2009 for their first winning season, with Cushing's help on a young defense.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
