Suspension Stands: Texans' Cushing Out First Four Games

All natural?

​Brian Cushing had better get his training regime in order, because the NFL isn't buying that "Overtrained Athlete Syndrome" nonsense.

Today, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced that the league will uphold the second-year linebacker's four-game suspension for taking a banned performance enhancing drug.

Cushing was suspended in May after he tested positive for HCG, a drug that appears on the NFL's banned substance list. The athlete initially attributed the positive testing to a hormone spike having to do with the supposed rare medical condition, which he said was confirmed by multiple doctors.

Last week, Texans' owner Bob McNair went to New York to plead Cushing's case, in hopes that the suspension would be rescinded or reduced.

In the statement released by the NFL this afternoon, the league said:

"At the request of Texans owner Bob McNair, Commissioner Goodell reviewed additional medical information presented on behalf of Brian Cushing. The club and Cushing were notified today that after carefully considering all the information, including a review by outside medical experts, the commissioner finds no basis for changing the decision and that Mr. Cushing's suspension for the first four games of the regular season remains in place."

Cushing, the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year (he retained the award despite a second voting, due to the PED charges) and a standout in the Texans defensive unit, is currently in camp in New Orleans. Prior to being drafted in the first round of the 2009 draft, Cushing was part of a formidable linebacker unit at USC.

He will miss games against Indianapolis, Washington, Dallas and Oakland, and will be eligible to play against the New York Giants in Week 5.