Chargers Cooper Suspended by NFL

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- San Diego Chargers linebacker Stephen Cooper will miss the first four games of the season for violating the National Football League's policy on steroids and related substances. The Chargers were officially notified of the suspension on Tuesday. The suspension, which will be without pay, will begin August 30 and he will be eligible to return to the team's active roster following the Chargers' game against Oakland on September 28.

Cooper, 28, said in a statement that he has accepted the penalty for his use of a stimulant recently added to the league's list of prohibited substances, adding that the stimulant was not used prior to any game or with the intent to enhance performance. "I regret that I mistakenly took a stimulant that I did not realize at the time was banned by the NFL," Cooper said. "I support the NFL's anti-doping policies, and understand that I must serve a suspension. "I apologize to the NFL, my team, my coaches, and to my fans, and I look forward to continuing to help the Chargers toward our goal of winning the Super Bowl in the upcoming season."

Details of the matter were not released, but the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Wednesday that Cooper tested positive for ephedra in December. Sources also told the newspaper that Cooper's defense was that the positive test was the result of ephedra being used as recreational drug.

Cooper, who led the club with 108 total tackles in 16 regular-season games last year, is eligible to participate in the team's off-season program and in all preseason practices and games. "Obviously we're disappointed," Chargers coach Norv Turner said. "(Cooper) made a mistake and now must deal with the consequences. It's unfortunate, but we'll deal with it and move on." Cooper has been linked to performance-enhancing drugs before. A month before he signed with the Chargers in 2003, he was sentenced to a year of probation for possession of anabolic steroids.