FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The NFL will suspend New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison four games for violating its substance abuse policy, Harrison said Friday night.
Harrison confirmed the suspension in a conference call with reporters, but would not confirm the details. ESPN.com reported that Harrison admitted to federal investigators that he obtained human growth hormone.
"My purpose was never to gain a competitive edge," he said. "Rather, my use was to accelerate the process of reovering from injuries."
Harrison said he met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Friday. The league does not comment on suspensions for violation of its substance abuse policy.
Harrison's name came up in federal and New York state investigations into an Internet pharmaceutical distribution ring for steroids and other performance enhancers, ESPN reported.
However, Harrison said in the conference call that "I want to make it clear that I have never used steroids."
