The NFL suspended San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates for the first four games of the 2015 season Thursday for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing substances.
“We are tremendously disappointed for our team and our fans as well as Antonio, but no more disappointed than Antonio is with himself,” the team said in a statement shortly following the announcement of the suspension.
Gates also made a statement on Twitter shortly after the announcement.
“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,” read part of his statement. “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.”
Gates, 35, has spent all of his 12 NFL seasons with the Chargers, who signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Kent State in 2003.
He is an eight-time Pro-Bowler and has been a first-team All Pro selection three times.
Along with that, he is the team’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
“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,” Gates said in the back-end of his statement.
Gates will miss games against the Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns.
Ladarius Green, who has three career touchdowns in 34 games, is next up on the depth chart at tight end.
