New England Patriots Rodney Harrison was suspended without pay for the first four games of the NFL’s season after he admitted taking a substance banned by the league last night. The substance is believed to be human growth hormone (HGH).

According to the league’s last statement the suspension begins immediately. Harrison will be permitted to return to the Patriots on Oct. 2, the day after they play at Cincinnati.

In an urgent conference call at 9:30, Harrison didn’t take questions from the media, but did state he did not take steroids and only used the “banned substance” for healing purposes.

“I want to make it clear that not once did I ever use steroids,” he said. “I did admit to the commissioner (Roger Goodell) that I did in fact use a banned substance. My purpose was never to gain a competitive edge. Rather, my use was solely for the purpose of accelerating the healing process of injuries I sustained while playing football.”

In the 2005 season Harrison accumulated several injuries. He tore his ACL, MCL and PCL against Pittsburgh. And in 2006 he suffered a broken scapula, as well as another knee injury in the regular-season finale against Tennessee.

Harrison is one of the most high-profile players to be suspended under the league’s drug policy. Last season, the Chargers’ Shawne Merriman was suspended four games.
The N.F.L. does not test for HGH because a reliable urine test is not available.

The league doesn’t use blood tests, and experts have maintained that the lack of accurate testing for HGH is a loophole for players who want to cheat. Earlier this year, the league pledged a minimum of $500,000 for the development of an HGH test.