Texans’ Denico Autry has been suspended for six games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Texans defensive back Denico Autry was suspended Monday for the first six games of the regular season for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Autry denied knowingly taking a banned substance, but said he would accept the suspension. Autry said he discovered the pharmacist who filled his prescription had “intentionally, recklessly or negligently” added a banned substance.

Autry will be eligible to participate in preseason practices and games. His first regular-season availability will be Oct. 20 in Green Bay. Autry apologized to the Texans organization, his teammates and fans for any distractions caused by his positive test.

Autry, 34, has 59 sacks in 10 NFL seasons. He had a career-high 11 1/2 last season with the Tennessee Titans and signed a two-year, $20 million free-agent contract with the Texans in March.

“Over the course of my 10-year NFL career, I have never used performance-enhancing drugs,” Autry said in a statement. “During that time, I have undergone numerous tests, none of which have ever returned a positive result. I was therefore dismayed when I learned this offseason that one of my tests came back positive.”

Autry said his attorney provided the NFL with documentation from his doctors showing he had neither requested nor been prescribed any banned substances.

“It was important to me that the NFL know that I did not intentionally or even knowingly ingest a banned substance,” Autry said. “However, I understand that under NFL policy, the ultimate responsibility for what goes into my body lies with me. For that reason, while I intend to explore legal options regarding the circumstances leading up to my positive test, I have accepted the NFL’s penalty of a six-game suspension.”

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