David Onyemata Suspended Six Games After Testing Positive for PED

Defensive tackle David Onyemata is facing a six-game suspension for after testing positive for a banned substance.

John Hendrix | Jul 16, 2021

Onyemata Update: David Onyemata's suspension will be for six-games. The Advocate's Amie Just shared a statement from an NFL spokesperson:

"Onymatata has been suspended without pay for the first six games of the 2021 regular season for violating the NFL Policy of Performance-Enhancing Substances. He will be able to participate in all preseason practices and games.

Onyemata will be eligible to return to the Saints' active roster on Tuesday, Oct. 26, following the team's Week 7 game at Seattle. "

It appears that the Saints will be without their top defensive tackle for some time in 2021. According to his personal Instagram account, David Onyemata has revealed that he's tested positive for a banned substance and will be facing a suspension.

In his post, this is what Onyemata said:

I was informed by the NFLPA yesterday that I have tested positive for a banned substance resulting in a suspension for part of the 2021 NFL season. While I was certainly surprised and disappointed with this news, I am responsible for what I put in my body. As I have never knowingly taken anything that could cause a positive test, we are currently in the process of testing the supplements I was taking at the time of the test. Regardless, I am committed to being more aware of any medication and dietary supplements that may contain substances banned by the NFL.

The Saints are not deep at defensive tackle after losing Sheldon Rankins to free agency and trading away Malcom Brown. They are banking on some big leaps from Shy Tuttle and Malcolm Roach. This figures to be a huge blow to their defense, and the suspension has not been formally announced. He already served a one-game suspension in 2019 for having marijuana in his home.

New Orleans does have some free agent cash to spend, and we talked about Geno Atkins being a good insurance policy. This may force the Saints' hand to do some searching.

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Published Jul 16, 2021

JOHN HENDRIX

I officially started covering the New Orleans Saints & other NFL topics in 2011. My work has been featured on various outlets over the years. I worked closely with Skyhorse Publishing in Fall 2018 to update the book, Tales From the New Orleans Saints Sidelines, which filled in all Saints material from the 2013-2017 seasons. Prior to joining Saints News Network, I served as the Managing Editor of SB Nation's Canal Street Chronicles for 3.5 years, and before that with FanSided's Who Dat Dish as the Managing Editor for several years. I have also had experiences of being a freelance Saints reporter for The Sun Herald in Biloxi, MS and a contributing writer for WDSU, a local NBC TV station in New Orleans. I have appeared on a vast amount of TV and Radio shows, both nationally and locally. For tips, comments, or suggestions, please contact me at johnhendrix@saintsnews.net