Roughriders react to suspension handed to Bombers’ Harris

While their situations aren’t identical, Saskatchewan Roughriders running back Marcus Thigpen knows what Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Andrew Harris is going through.

Harris was suspended for two games by the CFL after testing positive for a banned substance. The substance, metandienone, showed up in a urine test that occurred on July 12.

Harris will miss both the Labour Day Classic on Sunday and the Banjo Bowl the following week. Kickoff for Sunday’s game at Mosaic Stadium is set for 1 p.m.

Thigpen was suspended for the first two games of the 2018 season after testing positive for dehydrochlormethyltestosterone.

“It was devastating just because you can’t be out there with your teammates,” Thigpen said following Wednesday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium.

“You just have so many people looking up to you and (then) you get pegged as a cheater, like you were taking stuff intentionally to get an advantage in the game. I just felt like it was getting frowned upon.”

Harris said the banned substance wasn’t taken intentionally and was a case of product contamination. Thigpen said he was taking a testosterone booster before he came back to the CFL because he was getting into modelling at the time.

Thigpen said he couldn’t stand sitting out those first two games.

“Especially for something like (a banned substance), something that you can control. We’re responsible for what we put in our body,” Thigpen said.

Thigpen said athletes take different supplements throughout the year to make sure their bodies are in top shape. He said that, after his positive test, Thigpen started to just take supplements supplied by the team.

“I knew if something happened, then it wouldn’t be my fault,” Thigpen said. “I just made sure I took the stuff that the coaches and training staff gave us.”

Thigpen added it can be tough to keep up with all the different changes that come to the banned substance list every year.

“They’re always advancing those (lists) so we just have to make sure we take precautions as well,” Thigpen said.

Roughriders linebacker Solomon Elimimian reached out to Harris on Tuesday, a day after the news came out about the suspension. Elimimian spent six seasons with Harris as members of the B.C. Lions from 2010 to 2015.

“I just told him to keep his head up because it’s devastating,” Elimimian said. “Everything he has done in this league, to have it questioned is something he has to deal with.

“I tend to agree with Andrew and I support him because I’ve been his teammate for many years and I’ve seen how hard he works. I believe he wouldn’t have done it intentionally.”

Elimimian is also the second vice-president of the CFL Players’ Association. He said this is a good reminder for the players that they need to always ensure what they are taking doesn’t include a banned substance.

“Just because it’s over the counter, it doesn’t mean that it might necessarily be safe in our sport,” Elimimian said.

The Roughriders (6-3) have announced the Labour Day Classic is sold out. Saskatchewan has won 13 of the past 14 Labour Day Classic matchups with the Blue Bombers.

Elimimian expects a tough game, even with the Blue Bombers missing Harris and quarterback Matt Nichols (undisclosed).

“They’re 8-and-2 for a reason and as great as Andrew and Matt Nichols are, there’s a whole lot of good players that have contributed to them being 8-and-2,” Elimimian said. “When you’re a top team, you’re a top team for a reason.”

The Green Zone pre-game show gets underway at 11 a.m.

Notes: Defensive lineman Micah Johnson (ankle) was a full participant in Saskatchewan’s practice Wednesday. He has missed the past two games … Roughriders cornerback L.J. McCray was fined an undisclosed amount by the CFL on Wednesday for punching Ottawa Redblacks offensive lineman Nolan MacMillan in the first quarter of Saturday’s game. McCray was ejected from the game, which Saskatchewan won 40-18.