Fertility medication caused drug ban, says NFL player
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- Nazeeh Johnson has been suspended for six regular-season games without pay for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing substances policy.
- Fertility medication Johnson was taking after being told he was infertile caused his positive PED test, he said on X, adding he was unaware it contained a banned substance.
- The Kansas City Chiefs drafted Johnson in 2022; he helped them win the Super Bowl in 2023 and 2024 before joining Tennessee in July.
- The Tennessee Titans open their season September 13; Johnson can participate in all pre-season activities, including games, before his suspension begins August 30.
- Johnson will be eligible for reinstatement on Monday, October 19.
- Johnson and his wife lost their baby weeks ago and have nine eggs remaining, expressing hope of growing their family.
Why it matters: Johnson loses six games of pay and on-field action during his first season with Tennessee, while already navigating a fertility crisis that cost him a pregnancy. His case underscores the NFL's strict-liability PED policy: players bear responsibility for every substance entering their bodies, even prescribed fertility treatment.
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