SPEEDY B BANNED FOR TWO
TORONTO – The Hamilton Tiger-Cats will be without star receiver/kick-returner Brandon Banks for their crucial rematch Friday night with the Ottawa Redblacks.Banks was suspended for two games Wednesday for violating the CFL’s drug policy. According to the league, Banks tested positive for methylenedioxyamphetamine, a psychedelic hallucinogenic drug also known as MDA that’s closely related to ecstasy.
“I would like to apologize to my coaches, teammates, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats organization, and our great and loyal fans for putting myself in this situation,” Banks said in a statement. “It’s my responsibility to know what’s on the banned substance list and there is no excuse for my violation of the rules.
“My mistake has not only hurt my team, but my family and friends, and for that I am extremely sorry. I will work very hard over the next two weeks to prepare myself both mentally and physically to return to the field and contribute to bringing a Grey Cup championship back to the city of Hamilton.”
The loss of Banks is big for Hamilton (6-9), which trails first-place Ottawa (7-7-1) in the East Division standings. As a result of the suspension, Banks will also miss the Ticats’ home game versus Edmonton (8-7) on Oct. 28.
Hamilton can clinch a playoff berth – and home field for the East semifinal – with a win Friday. The Ticats would also garner second in the conference with a tie and losses this week by both Toronto and Montreal.
Ottawa can also clinch first in the East and home field for the division final with a win over Hamilton.
Banks will be eligible to return to Hamilton’s lineup Nov. 5 for its regular-season finale against Montreal at Tim Hortons Field.
The five-foot-seven, 157-pound Banks has 29 catches for 355 yards and four TDs this season. He has 59 punt returns for 569 yards and a touchdown and has also returned two missed field goals for touchdowns.
Under the CFL-CFL Players’ Association policy, a suspended player can’t participate in games but the club decides if he can participate in other team activities such as practices and meetings.
Banks is the third player suspended this season for a positive drug test.
Defensive tackle Quinn Smith of the Calgary Stampeders was slapped with a three-game ban after testing positive for the anabolic steroid methandienone. It marked the second time Smith had tested positive in his football career.
Bruce Johnson, a defensive back with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, received a two-game suspension for after also testing positive for methylenedioxyamphetamine.
(Canadian Press)
SOUNDS LIKE TOO MUCH SPEED FOR SPEEDY B
Its a wonder some of the trolls on this site haven't put the blame on Jones
Rod…. Can you please find out for me the price of a single game ticket in the Wheelchair section in the new Mosaic Stadium ? I have looked everywhere and cannot come up with the answer.
Thank You……Bill
The CFL has zero business testing for recreational drugs.
Down with "moral" scum that think they get to dictate how others live their lives.
Typical druggie response.
Strawberry Fields
not performance enhancing. let people live their lives.
Testing for druggies in the workplace. Welcome to the real world, as it should be.
Reality
Hamilton seems to continually find ways to harm their own team. Until this year they were my team of choice after the Riders but that has changed, mostly because of their coach and his snarly personality but stuff like this just shouldn't happen.
Other sports leagues such as the NFL, and UFC test for recreational drugs. I can think of Ricky Williams (NFL) and Nick Diaz (UFC 183) being suspended for recreational type drugs…Canada and the CFL should be no different.
Wow, out come the druggy trolls now. Awesome.
Wanna do drugs, fine, just don't do in a work place that tests for them. Can always find another job right?
Brian – that's a follower's mentality. Canada ABSOLUTELY should be different because in this case different = better.
So says the corner connection.
Lets use dope everywhere….
I'll bet we would all love to have our Air Traffic Controllers high while our families are in the air…
Party on Bro!!
Typical puritanical brainwashed moral absolutist response.
The contribution of "druggies" to art, science and technology is vast and profound.
You're just nothing but a good little follower.
These contributors to art, science and technology would have been successful with or without the use of drugs, so stop implying that drugs made them great innovators. And while they were able to make their contributions to society, how many of them died of drug overdoses? Joplin, Hendrix, Morrison, Farely and the list goes on.
If you insist on following your idols off the cliff like a good little lemming, go for it.
Those of us who can face reality will just shake our heads and laugh.
Has nothing to do with the CFL. The list of banned substances is from WADA who also does the testing. Same as any other sport that is testing
GREAT NEWS!!!!! Oskeeeeee Wee Wee
Riderville! You have your answer you've been waiting on moving forward.
The answer is in the answer,
"I'm focused on Montreal".
Welcome to the Alouettes 2017…
Ya all can start hating now in, 1 2 3 …
At least it was a recreational drug and not a performance enhancing drug!! It means he just made a bad decision at a party…not trying to get ahead unnaturally or cheating
Err…I got it from kissing a girl.
I see… So it's ok to take a chemical that's illegal. Take a trip but never leave the farm. But it's not ok to take a chemical that enhances your performance?The fact of the matter is that young boys look up to these players. They are idols and are held in a high standard. So sitting In your living room minding your own business listening to Hendricks excuse me while I kiss the sky all while you take a psychedelic couch ride to Jupiter and back does matter. Be a better representative of your Family, team and the game. Otherwise… Read more »
dumb comments by idiots. it should not matter what people do on their own time. and YES it is diff than performance enhancing because its not giving him a leg up on the competition. idiot
just like how 3 quarters of the team smokes cannabis
Anyone that plays a proffesional team sport has to live within the league rules. He represents his team and is looked up too from young players. He's setting a really poor example. If he's doing MDA he's doing a lot more. Bet on it. Only a moronic anonymous poster calls others idiots because he feels one illegal illicit drug is ok over another. It doesn't matter if it's giving him a leg up or not Anonymous. It's a highly illegal drug. It's not pot. Stupidity is always posted under Anonymous. If your going to back an illegal position put your… Read more »