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The NFL suspended Minnesota Vikings tight end Byron Chamberlain for the first four games of the season for violating the league's policy on banned substances.
Chamberlain tested positive for ephedra, an over-the-counter stimulant which speeds the heart rate and constricts blood vessels.
In an interview with WCCO-TV in Minneapolis, Chamberlain said he misread the label on a product he was using and believed it was ephedra-free.
"It's definitely an honest mistake, but it's something I'm going to have to deal with,'' Chamberlain said. "I definitely apologize to my teammates, to my family and to the fans.''
Chamberlain made the Pro Bowl in 2001, but struggled with knee and weight problems in 2002, his eighth year in the league. He caught 34 passes for 389 yards for the Vikings that year.
He will be eligible to return for Minnesota's game at Atlanta on Oct. 5.
Chamberlain tested positive for ephedra, an over-the-counter stimulant which speeds the heart rate and constricts blood vessels.
In an interview with WCCO-TV in Minneapolis, Chamberlain said he misread the label on a product he was using and believed it was ephedra-free.
"It's definitely an honest mistake, but it's something I'm going to have to deal with,'' Chamberlain said. "I definitely apologize to my teammates, to my family and to the fans.''
Chamberlain made the Pro Bowl in 2001, but struggled with knee and weight problems in 2002, his eighth year in the league. He caught 34 passes for 389 yards for the Vikings that year.
He will be eligible to return for Minnesota's game at Atlanta on Oct. 5.