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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Lewis refuses to address report

According to Sports Illustrated, Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis used deer-antler spray to bounce back from an injury. (Associated Press)
Howard Fendrich Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS – Of all the topics Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis wanted to talk about at Super Bowl media day, deer-antler spray probably was not on the list.

He declined to directly address in any detail Tuesday questions about a Sports Illustrated report that he sought help from a company that makes the unorthodox product to speed up his recovery from a torn right triceps. Lewis missed 10 regular-season games with the injury.

The company, Sports With Alternatives To Steroids (SWATS), says its deer-antler substance contains a banned performance-enhancer connected to human growth hormone.

Lewis, 37, who has announced he will retire after playing against San Francisco in Sunday’s Super Bowl, dismissed the report as “stupidity.”

Sport Illustrated reported that SWATS owner Mitch Ross recorded a call with Lewis hours after the player hurt his arm in an October game against Dallas. Lewis asked Ross to send him deer-antler spray, pills and other products.

The magazine also said that when it spoke to Lewis for its story, he acknowledged asking Ross for “some more of the regular stuff” on the night of the injury and that he has been associated with the company “for a couple years through Hue Jackson.”

Jackson is a former Ravens quarterbacks coach – and later head coach of the Oakland Raiders.

“That was a 2-year-old story that you want me to refresh … so I won’t even speak about it,” Lewis said Tuesday. “Because I’ve been in this business 17 years, and nobody has ever got up with me every morning and trained with me. Every test I’ve ever took in the NFL – there’s never been a question of if I ever even thought about using anything. So to even entertain stupidity like that. …”