According to The Denver Post, former Denver Broncos outside linebacker Randy Gregory has filed a discrimination case against the NFL and the organization after receiving a fine of more than $500,000 for using THC-containing drugs for impairments in the previous year. On Wednesday, the complaint was submitted to the district court of Arapahoe County.
Gregory says he was prescribed dronabinol to treat his PTSD and social anxiety condition, according to The Post. Although THC is prohibited and a positive test results in a punishment, the NFL no longer suspends players for testing positive for it. According to the lawsuit, Gregory asked the league for an accommodation, but it was turned down.
According to Peter Schaffer, Gregory’s agent, “this is a serious effort by Randy to push the NFL forward on alternative methods for pain management options,” as reported to The Post. “It is quite legal and far worse for the player if a doctor prescribes hydrocodone, but the player is not punished or suspended. Randy is paying $500,000 in fines for something that anyone else in the state of Colorado can do; he is not attempting to circumvent the law. To enable Randy to manage his disability under the guidance of his medical physician, all we ask for is a reasonable accommodation.”
According to the complaint, Gregory has been penalized $532,500 for several THC test results that were positive since March 2023.
Gregory had previously served several suspensions for breaking the league’s drug policy, including the whole 2017 and 2019 seasons. In 2021, he was initially diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, and in February 2023, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Gregory joined the league in 2015 after the Dallas Cowboys selected him in the second round of the draft. He inked a five-year, $70 million deal with the Broncos in 2022. Gregory’s time with Denver was brief despite that long-term commitment because he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in the middle of the previous campaign. He inked a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in April.
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