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Northwestern defensive end Luis Castillo admits to using steroids to recover from injury in 2004, hurts his chances of going in 1st round of NFL draft.
It doesn't say in the article however, if the substances he used were legal at that time - since he did do this in 2004.
Castillo admits to steroids
Thursday, April 14, 2005
By VINNY DiTRANI
STAFF WRITER
Luis Castillo's hopes of becoming Bergen County's initial first-round NFL draft selection have suffered a blow now that the Garfield product has admitted using steroids to hasten his recovery from an elbow injury.
The Northwestern defensive tackle sent a letter to the 32 NFL teams, conceding he had used banned substances. He reportedly tested positive for androstenedione at the NFL combines held in Indianapolis in early March. Results of combine testing for all illegal substances were not released to the teams until this week.
In his letter, Castillo told the NFL clubs he began taking steroids when his recovery from an elbow injury, suffered in the first game of the 2004 season, was going slower than expected. He added he is not a habitual user.
Northwestern provided drug-testing information, which Castillo included with his letter, showing he never tested positive for steroids in his four seasons with the Wildcats. A letter from coach Randy Walker confirmed Castillo had been clean at Northwestern.
Castillo's performance at those combine sessions apparently had helped boost him into the lower half of the first round. The 6-foot-3, 303-pounder put up great numbers in Indianapolis, lifting the 225-pound bar 32 times and running the 40-yard dash in 4.79 seconds.
Teams now may question how much of that was his natural ability, and how much was the boost from steroids.
"It's going to hurt him [in the draft], there's not any question about that," said one NFL team source, who added his club received Castillo's letter Wednesday. "How much? That's a subjective question, and every team will look at it differently."
Rick Smith of Chicago-based Priority Sports and Entertainment, which represents Castillo, issued the following statement: "We have talked to all 32 teams and are extremely comfortable with where we are right now." Smith refused to entertain any questions on the matter.
Castillo was informed by his representatives not to discuss the matter.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league would not comment on the Castillo case in keeping with its privacy policy regarding drug- or steroid-related issues. He said, however, according to league policy, a player entering the league having tested positive for steroids is not subject to the four-game suspension levied on veteran first-time offenders.
Under reasonable cause, however, a rookie testing positive for steroid use at the combines is subject to testing throughout his career. That would entail a maximum of 24 tests each year on a schedule determined by the counselor assigned to the case.
If that player tested positive once he entered the league, he then would be subject to the four-game suspension.
Northwestern defensive end Luis Castillo admits to using steroids to recover from injury in 2004, hurts his chances of going in 1st round of NFL draft.
It doesn't say in the article however, if the substances he used were legal at that time - since he did do this in 2004.
Castillo admits to steroids
Thursday, April 14, 2005
By VINNY DiTRANI
STAFF WRITER
Luis Castillo's hopes of becoming Bergen County's initial first-round NFL draft selection have suffered a blow now that the Garfield product has admitted using steroids to hasten his recovery from an elbow injury.
The Northwestern defensive tackle sent a letter to the 32 NFL teams, conceding he had used banned substances. He reportedly tested positive for androstenedione at the NFL combines held in Indianapolis in early March. Results of combine testing for all illegal substances were not released to the teams until this week.
In his letter, Castillo told the NFL clubs he began taking steroids when his recovery from an elbow injury, suffered in the first game of the 2004 season, was going slower than expected. He added he is not a habitual user.
Northwestern provided drug-testing information, which Castillo included with his letter, showing he never tested positive for steroids in his four seasons with the Wildcats. A letter from coach Randy Walker confirmed Castillo had been clean at Northwestern.
Castillo's performance at those combine sessions apparently had helped boost him into the lower half of the first round. The 6-foot-3, 303-pounder put up great numbers in Indianapolis, lifting the 225-pound bar 32 times and running the 40-yard dash in 4.79 seconds.
Teams now may question how much of that was his natural ability, and how much was the boost from steroids.
"It's going to hurt him [in the draft], there's not any question about that," said one NFL team source, who added his club received Castillo's letter Wednesday. "How much? That's a subjective question, and every team will look at it differently."
Rick Smith of Chicago-based Priority Sports and Entertainment, which represents Castillo, issued the following statement: "We have talked to all 32 teams and are extremely comfortable with where we are right now." Smith refused to entertain any questions on the matter.
Castillo was informed by his representatives not to discuss the matter.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league would not comment on the Castillo case in keeping with its privacy policy regarding drug- or steroid-related issues. He said, however, according to league policy, a player entering the league having tested positive for steroids is not subject to the four-game suspension levied on veteran first-time offenders.
Under reasonable cause, however, a rookie testing positive for steroid use at the combines is subject to testing throughout his career. That would entail a maximum of 24 tests each year on a schedule determined by the counselor assigned to the case.
If that player tested positive once he entered the league, he then would be subject to the four-game suspension.
