Obafemi Ayanbadejo Banned Substance Lawsuit

(AZ Central) Femi Ayanbadejo knows that he messed up.

But he also wants people - especially those in the Cardinals organization - to know that he didn't lie to them, and that he didn't intentionally take a banned substance before he tested positive for one in January 2007.

That was shortly after the last of his three seasons as a fullback for the Cardinals. He learned of the positive test in April and was released in June. He then signed with Chicago, where he served a four-game suspension before being cut by the Bears.

He hasn't played in the NFL since.

• ALR Industries, which manufactures sports supplements, recently settled a lawsuit Ayanbadejo brought against the company, claiming it did not properly label a supplement called Max LMG which resulted in his failed test.

  "The performance-enhancing-drug stigma that can go with an athlete is pretty bad," he said.

  "The No. 1 thing for me . . . I really believe the Cardinals thought I was on steroids. And I think my teammates did.

  "I always went out of my way to eat organic. I would bring my own food on the road and to practice, and this made me look like a fraud.

  "I just want them to know that I told them the truth and that I'm an honest person."

  Attorneys for ALR Industries contended the product was properly labeled.

  Ayanbadejo and his attorney, Jim Miller, argued a chemical in the supplement metabolizes in the body and produces the banned substance.

  While he is keeping financial details of the settlement confidential, Ayanbadejo is speaking out about his experience because he believes the supplement industry needs to be more closely regulated and that high school, college and even NFL players may unwittingly take substances that could get them in trouble or, worse, do harm.

  "I've been using supplements since I was 16," Ayanbadejo said. "I knew the basic rules of the NFL drug-testing policy and in general what was on the banned list.

  "I got so comfortable in making my own decisions and doing my own research that I think I was overconfident in my ability to assess the products.

  "I take responsibility because I could have done more . . . ALR needs to take responsibility for their labeling and for their marketing.

  "Our main point is the manufacturer needs to be more transparent. There needs to be more disclosure to let the consumer know the road they're going down."

  ALR admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement and has filed a defamation suit against Ayanbadejo, which Miller said is "going nowhere."

  Neither, however, is the stigma.

  "Once your name goes across that ESPN ticker saying you've been suspended . . . there's no way I can match the reach that has," Ayanbadejo said.

  Meanwhile, he hasn't given up on his career.

  Now 34, he was drafted by San Francisco's UFL franchise - coached by former Cardinals coach Dennis Green.

  "I'm a positive thinker," Ayanbadejo said. "I didn't envision my NFL career ending on this note, but I believe I have a lot left in the tank. I'm going to play for Denny and I hope to show that I still have my abilities."

  Scott talks with his attorney Jim P. Miller in El Cajon.