Dwyer’s drug test a result of approved prescription medication for ADD
Former Georgia Tech running back Jonathan Dwyer has been cleared by the NFL to take a prescription medication that will result in positive drug tests, his agent, Adisa Bakari, said on Sunday.
In e-mails and text messages, Dwyer said he takes the medication to treat Attention Deficit Disorder and has done so since he was a kid.
“It’s a non-issue,” said Bakari, who also declined to say what the condition is because of legal reasons. Georgia Tech knew about the condition, as now does the NFL.
Dwyer was one of several players who were reported by foxsports.com as failing drug tests at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis in February. The website said Dwyer tested positive for amphetamines, but did note that the failure was a result of the prescription medication.
Dwyer, a Marietta native, rushed for 1,395 yards in each of the last two seasons. He is projected to be a late-first round or second-round pick in the NFL draft, which begins on Thursday.
Editor’s note: Here’s is the original report from FoxSports.com
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161 comments Add your comment
Why is this a scandal?
April 18th, 2010
10:40 pm
To those who dont know: ADHD medications are basically amphetamines. If you have a child that takes them, they may test positive on a drug screen. I believe there are several nfl players who have the same situation. I find it strange the way this story is being covered on not just this site but even other national ones. I guess a juicy headline makes more money, and matters more than the young man’s career
Doug Roberson
April 18th, 2010
10:40 pm
Let me clear up one more thing, while I would love for everyone in the big, beautiful world to read every single story, blog, brief or grocery list I write, I wouldn’t skew facts to make that wish come true.
The headline was written by someone. While accurate, it didn’t have the proper context. When the context was confirmed (remember the foxsports’ site was using anonymous sources), the headline was improved.
As Lulu pointed out, sometimes we don’t get all the facts at the same time, but we do our best to get them right as they are collected.
Tech Mom
April 18th, 2010
10:41 pm
Doug…your mama just called and she said she taught you better!
Doug Roberson
April 18th, 2010
10:42 pm
Tech Mom: She did and still does.
aldga
April 18th, 2010
10:45 pm
This is exactly why I won’t ever again pay to read the AJC.
BG
April 18th, 2010
10:46 pm
Tech players taking drugs?? Whats new????
Tech Mom
April 18th, 2010
10:47 pm
Then, I think you owe Jonathan an apology about the original headline – whether or not you wrote it. After all, your name is underneath that headline. As for Jonathan, I personally know he and his family, and have for most of his life. They are the nicest, most genuine family. Their deep faith in God will see them thru this blip, but I do wish that you would remember what all us mamas teach our kids….if you can’t say something nice about someone, don’t say anything at all.
Doug Roberson
April 18th, 2010
10:51 pm
I have met the Dwyers and they are very nice people. Jonathan was nice to put up with me throughout the football season. If he calls me back, I’ll try and explain the timeline of events.
snoopy
April 18th, 2010
10:51 pm
for over 50 years I have always enjoyed the AJC. How I long for Furman Bisher, The rag is no longer available in middle GA. I have tried following on line and I can not believe the CURRENT SPORTS WRITERS do not check or search their sports info. I am glad to see the class of my UGA and GT FANS come together on the TRASH now being published and calling it “sports.”
Tech Mom
April 18th, 2010
10:54 pm
Thanks Doug for your last comment. I do hope that you get to have that conversation.
David Purdum
April 18th, 2010
11:56 pm
In defense of Doug, I worked this story from the online perspective.
The original headline on the actual story read: “Former Tech running back tests positive for amphetamines, according to media report.”
At first, that is what FoxSports (media report) was reporting and has since been confirmed. There was nothing inaccurate about that headline.
As soon as we got confirmation of the circumstances surrounding the positive test, we updated the headline to reflect the change. Stories change, update and develop all the time. It is the nature of news on the Web.
Really David???
April 19th, 2010
12:58 am
Nice of you to help out poor Doug after 2 pages of getting crushed. I have NEVER seen a blog response so united from both UGA and GT fans, EV-ER. That is saying ALOT. And, PLEASE dont hide behind the “there was nothing inaccurate about ” the original headline… There is nothing inaccurate about it? do you think we’re really that stupid? journalistic integrity should have dictated before you run a story with THAT headline that runs counter to everything you guys have seen in Dwyer through closely following his career at Tech ( he was one of the first meet the player videos) and through knowledge of his family/faith, a simple phone call to him personally or his agent would have been in order PRIOR to running that crap. You guys know you screwed this one big time to see UGA and GT fans united in their disgust and outrage. For these reasons, most of us go to the message boards now for meaningful commentary, places like BBuzzoff have been my first stop for news regarding GT for years and the site is run by a freelance guy in a much more professional and monitored fashion than your paper seems to be. You really need to figure things out quick before you become an afterthought. About the only thing I like now are Steve and Mark’s sometimes insightful columns, although after Furman left there has still been a big void. (btw I still check his online entries regularly). Best thing here is to retreat and not repeat this error again, not a good business plan.
And to all the UGA fans, I raise my glass to you all. Hat’s off for being extremely classy and uniting against this garbage. I will do the same for you when I see fit.
This all comes from a former subscriber to the AJC…
collegedude
April 19th, 2010
1:32 am
Glad it’s a prescription drug that he was supposed to be taking.
Falcon fans, come meet & have lunch with 3 Falcon’s legends & support a local charity at the same time. Jeff Van Note, Jessie Tuggle, & Buddy Curry will be there and have a Q&A session with those in attendence. Check it out here: http://www.falconnationcharities.org/lunchwithlegends.html
P. Bull Terrier
April 19th, 2010
1:39 am
I know a few UGA law school grads who might be interested in helping Mr. Dwyer investigate the implications of the AJC and Fox Sports using the phrases like “failed drug test” to describe a player testing positive for a prescription medication that has been cleared by the NCAA and NFL. Unless the NFL uses the term “fail” in their reports, publishing stories claiming Mr. Dwyer “failed” the NFL drug test sounds like libel to me. If Dwyer slips lower than expected in the draft, he may be able to point to the lost income as damages from the libelous reports.
hash slinger
April 19th, 2010
1:48 am
So according to Mr. Purdum it’s the “Fox was reporting it” defense? You couldn’t hold the story & verify the facts? You obviously could as Doug did so after you published the original headline. That’s why you’ve now changed the headline three times & removed it from the front page. You CHOSE to run a sensational headline without regards to its veracity, a very poor choice. It would be nice if you could admit your mistake. I too would like to thank the Dawg fans who took the time to make their displeasure with this nonsense known. It’s much appreciated & I for one list a glass to you.
Timmy
April 19th, 2010
2:45 am
Guys,
I’m a life-long Tech fan but my sister is a UGA grad who used to write for the Red & Black, and she frequently discussed her frustration in the fact that some of the headlines for her stories didn’t match up with her story. Why? Because journalists OFTEN HAVE LITTLE OR NO SAY-SO in what the headline reads. Those in charge of that are looking for something that catches the eye even if it’s misleading…so blame the AJC, but don’t attack the writer unless you know for sure that he came up with the headline.
superDawg
April 19th, 2010
3:39 am
NUFF SAID.
Darrah
April 19th, 2010
6:08 am
Yep, this is where it leads when a bunch of UGA journalism majors end up at a newspaper.
There are so many times to take legitimate shots at UGA and its abuses of the student-athletes, the AJC figured it could do the same with Tech.
Reality Check
April 19th, 2010
7:59 am
Coming from this piece of crap called a Newspaper, what could we expect. They also enjoy Cindy Tucker, Luchovich, and Jay Bookman. Just plain garbage. No wonder they can’t sell papers.
Jacketman
April 19th, 2010
8:01 am
One thing Tech and UGA fans can agree on—–The AJC SUCKS!!!!!
mwh6767
April 19th, 2010
9:00 am
Is the Ajc seriously trying to justify this by saying “Well um…. hey Fox Sports did it first!”. Doug I’m sorry dude but I just don’t believe you had nooooo idea what the headline was going to be. Kinda like being in the store with your buddy when he steals a drink. I didn’t do it, even though I was there. The fact that Dwyer has been in the local spotlight for 4-5 years at least and nothing has ever came out about him in a negative way. Now comes along this story out of the blue about testing positive for illegal drugs and you guys just up and run with it?!?!?! C’mon guys this was bush- league journalism at its finest! Doug, yourself and the rest of the ajc should print a public written apology for the website and for the front page of the paper asap, PERIOD
Tech Fan
April 19th, 2010
9:04 am
As a Tech fan I am glad to see that there are so many class act UGA fans willing to stand up and not make an issue of this. Thank you all.
buzzwax
April 19th, 2010
9:39 am
Doug,
Most do not know that you do not write/publish the headlines. If the AJC is in such financial termoil, FIRE the people that write the headlines and save some money!!
Here is a decent article discussing Mr. Jonathon Dwyers draft status….Bill Bellicheck (sp?) and Paul Johnson know each other very well………….
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/thompson-7-points-041110
Justafan
April 19th, 2010
9:44 am
Doug its cool. Everyone makes mistakes. I believe we call that being human. Just try to be more informed.
.
April 19th, 2010
9:47 am
Sure it was Dwyer and not PAUL HEWITT? Please leave Hewitt…..
Dwyer will overcome bad pre-draft rumor | Jeff Schultz
April 19th, 2010
9:52 am
[...] eventually confirmed to our Doug Roberson that he has been taking medication for ADD for several years. That hardly makes him unique in sports — or for that matter, anywhere in [...]
AH
April 19th, 2010
10:12 am
Another dawg fan wishing Mr. Dwyer the best of luck in the NFL. It’s a shame his name had to be dragged through the paper for a “non-issue”. He was a great player for Tech and I’m glad we won’t have to see him this year in Athens. Wishing you a great career!
Fillin' up @ Juniors
April 19th, 2010
10:39 am
everytime news is rushed to ‘breaking’ without taking the time to check the accuracy it does something to discredit the media source, whether they were the orginal source or someone picking up someone elses journalism. The problem, the breakers of the story can hide, but who the story is about they cannot. Jon Dwyer and family has to deal with this for real, they dont get to hide, while those responsible can hide behind the scenes, and that is cowardice. Maybe Doug you are a scapegoat for getting caught in the middle, but we readers still look to their news media with some level of standards and ‘credibility is not given its earned.’ Yours and this newspapers takes a hit today, whether ‘at fault’ or not because we expect hometown writers to take the time to get it right, there is more on the line for hometown writers, I would expect Fox to screw it up, its why i come here to get my news. I still will, but a few more stories like this and the delivers to my house can stop.
POAD
April 19th, 2010
10:42 am
Doug in your story about Bay Bay Thomas you said Bilbo was a Widereceiver. Yes, he was but he started as a QB.
AJC fails drug test
April 19th, 2010
10:50 am
AJC failed drug test because of prescription prozac, taken to battle depression because the news organization sucks so bad, despite having zero competition in city of Atlanta.
Jo Bling
April 19th, 2010
10:53 am
David Purdam’s excuse-making is so typical of today’s pathetic journalism standards:
1. Blame someone else;
2. Hide behind the fact that a headline or statement is technically accurate (even though it is misleading as hell and, at its essence, a complete non-story)
There is no shame left in the world of journalism. It’s all about getting “page views” in order to sell online advertising. The more sensational the headline, the more likely a reader is to click on the link and create a new “page view”. Whether the headline is a fair representation of the truth is immaterial as long as it generates clicks.
POAD
April 19th, 2010
11:11 am
I think I am just going to go to TMZ for my news from now on.
Delbert D.
April 19th, 2010
11:13 am
The original story was “sold up” by a headline editor. I have a longtime friend whose daughter is a former headline editor for the AJC. Doug does not deserve any criticism for his reporting.
richard cranium
April 19th, 2010
11:38 am
why are you deleting my comments, sir..???
the truth
April 19th, 2010
11:41 am
This isn’t about Roberson!!!!! This isn’t about the whoever provided the headline. This is about the corporation named AJC. It’s about the AJC and their standards. Throwing a hook out there with a BS and absolutely misleading headline is obviously something the AJC doesn’t mind. Doesn’t matter if others do it….the fact is this is what the AJC has become. This whole incident w/ Dwyer is a non-story and should have never hit tthe media. It’s that simple. Roberson may have no first hand implications but his employer sure as hell does.
richard cranium
April 19th, 2010
11:42 am
What cowards.
richard cranium
April 19th, 2010
11:45 am
i really feel sorry for the guy who has to sit and sensor these posts.
It wouldn’t be necessary if your paper wasn’t negligent.
Big Dawg
April 19th, 2010
12:05 pm
This headline caught me off too. While nothing suprises me I’d have been suprised if Dwyer was dirty. If he slips in the draft I hope the Falcons sign him. He abused our boys in 08. If he slips because of the combine some NFL team will get a steal.
face it techies
April 19th, 2010
12:05 pm
hahahaha techies are even turning on themselves now.
glorious
chill out techies
April 19th, 2010
2:24 pm
the original story was that Dwyer failed a drug test. Hence the headline that Dwyer failed a drug test. Later information showed he was on ADD meds that caused the failed test. The story then became about why he failed the test. Hence the new headline about the meds. There was no intent to mislead. they reported what they knew, found out more stuff, and then reported that stuff.
Scott
April 19th, 2010
3:48 pm
Well, AJC, thanks for telling the world that Dwyer has ADD. Idiots.
ADD ................what??? %$#@
April 19th, 2010
4:29 pm
Ritilin or Adderoll for Attention Defecit Disorder? He has that and STILL could do the class work at tech? Nnaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, no way.
It is his for weight reduction not school work focus. Come on.
Another one bites the dust.
Magic
April 19th, 2010
4:45 pm
everyone email blake@kigercc.com at 4:45pm
Magic
April 19th, 2010
4:46 pm
and 4:55
Hokie!
April 19th, 2010
8:46 pm
I saw GT & UGA fans supporting Dwyer… AS a Hokie, I do too.. C’mon this is rude to disclose that Dwyer has ADD and taked medication. I wonder why this is even in the banned substance list…
30-24 Dawgs - We Run This State!
April 19th, 2010
9:30 pm
I agree, the headline of this story was classless! If you want to talk about how CK4 and Ealey outrushed Dwyer to the tune of 335+ yards in UGA’s 30-24 victory that’s fine but saying Dwyer failed drug test is classless!
Mike Wahba
April 19th, 2010
10:07 pm
Is the drug Adderall?
I am curious because I think it is interesting that the NFL is not concerned. If it is Adderall, then this would only be another example of why Nascar is not treating Jeremy Mayfield properly.
Matt
April 19th, 2010
10:55 pm
It seems like the reporter could have done a Google’s worth of research and see that amphetamines have a medical use and are prescribed widely. It isn’t like he tested positive for cocaine.
Those idiots on 790 (Stews) were still propagating this BS story even after it was corrected.
I understand about getting facts out but thinking a little analytically before writing a sensational headline would be a smart idea.
Matt
April 19th, 2010
11:09 pm
Mike,
The drug test is not going to tell you what brand name drug is in this system, it only tests for the amphetamine metabolites. The GC/MS analysis would be able to distinguish between methamphetamine and a prescribed amphetamine. I thought the Nascar guy tested positive for meth.
Johnny DangerDawg
April 20th, 2010
1:12 am
LizellaJacket,
This story may be unimportant, but it’s not the result of some anti-GT conspiracy at the AJC. The same story is on ESPN’s website. Also, you accuse the reporter of being a UGA journalism major, but Doug Roberson attended GCSU.