Travis Kelce, a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, has been suspended for one year due to a violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
The suspension comes after Kelce tested positive for marijuana. This is not the first time Kelce has faced disciplinary action for drug use. In 2016, he was suspended for four games after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
The news of Kelce’s suspension has sparked controversy, with some arguing that the punishment is too harsh considering the legalization of marijuana in many states.
However, the NFL has made it clear that it will continue to test players for marijuana and enforce penalties for positive tests, regardless of changes in state laws.
Kelce has released a statement expressing his disappointment in the suspension while acknowledging his mistake. He also expressed gratitude for the support he has received from his teammates and fans.
This incident brings attention to the ongoing debate surrounding the NFL’s drug policies and their effectiveness in addressing substance abuse among players.
Some argue that the league’s strict stance on marijuana use is outdated and unfairly targets players who use the drug for medicinal purposes or recreationally in their free time. Others believe that the NFL has a responsibility to protect its players from the potential negative effects of drug use and maintain a level playing field.
Regardless of one’s stance on the issue, there is no denying that Kelce’s suspension will have an impact on the Chiefs’ upcoming season. With Kelce sidelined, the team will need to find alternative options at tight end, which could affect their offensive strategy and overall success.
In conclusion, Travis Kelce’s suspension serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by professional athletes in balancing their personal lives with the demands of their profession. As the conversation around drug policies in sports continues, we can expect to see more developments like this in the future.
Travis Kelce Says Around 80% of NFL Players Smoke Marijuana: ‘A Lot of Guys Stop a Week Before’ Season
The two-time Super Bowl champion opened up about players smoking pot in a new interview with Vanity Fair
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Most players in the NFL smoke marijuana, and these days few are being reprimanded for the once frowned upon practice, according to two-time Super Bowl champion Travis Kelce.
The 33-year-old Kansas City Chiefs tight end, who was once suspended for an entire season for smoking marijuana at the University of Cincinnati, tells Vanity Fair this week that the league’s recently adjusted drug testing policy has made it easier for players to continue the habit most of the year.
“If you just stop in the middle of July, you’re fine,” he tells the outlet. “A lot of guys stop a week before and they still pass because everybody’s working out in the heat and sweating their tail off. Nobody’s really getting hit for it anymore.”
In 2021, as many states across the country continued legalizing the recreational use of marijuana, the NFL announced it was reworking its drug testing policy to refrain from testing players for THC during the offseason.
Kelce estimates that anywhere from 50-to-80% of NFL players smoke pot. The eight-time Pro Bowl tight end’s comments to Vanity Fair come a month after running back Le’Veon Bell said on a podcast that he routinely smoked weed before games, according to ESPN.
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Colorado and Washington state first legalized recreational use in 2012, and dozens of states have since adjusted their laws pertaining to marijuana. As of 2023, recreational marijuana is legal in 23 U.S. states while many other states have at least made it legal for medical use, according to CBS. The drug is still illegal federally, however.
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Surveys have also shown support for marijuana use has risen among all age groups in recent years, according to The Associated Press. But perceptions have rapidly changed, as Kelce well knows.
A little more than a decade ago, the star tight end tells Vanity Fair he was “so embarrassed” over his year-long suspension for smoking weed. “I didn’t want to look at anybody,” he remembers about that time, moving in with his brother Jason shortly after to ensure he stayed in line with the school’s rules.
The suspension even confounded Kelce’s father, Ed, who says he regularly spoke with Travis about the matter after the punishment was handed down.
“I told him it’s a great learning opportunity. Live with it. Grow from it. Learn from it. It is what it is, and you just have to deal with it now,” Ed tells Vanity Fair. “All the while, I’m biting my tongue about how stupid it is that they’re going to suspend a college kid for smoking pot. Give me a f—ing break.”
