NFL player reveals suspension for Performance Enhancing Drug happened because he was addressing infertility

Tennessee Titans safety Nazeeh Johnson has revealed that his six-game NFL suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy resulted from a fertility medication he took while he and his wife, Gabrielle, were trying to conceive. Johnson said he was unaware the medication contained a banned substance, and disclosed that the couple had recently lost the pregnancy that resulted from the treatment. The case highlights the personal toll behind a routine-looking disciplinary announcement and has prompted Johnson to urge fellow players to seek approval before taking any medication.

The NFL announced on Friday that Johnson will be suspended without pay from 30 August and unable to rejoin the Titans until 19 October. Johnson explained on social media that he had been diagnosed as infertile and took fertility medication to help the couple conceive, not realising it contained a prohibited substance; Gabrielle also shared details of the fertility treatments, including egg harvesting, on X. The couple say they lost the baby a few weeks ago but still have nine viable eggs and hope to grow their family. Johnson, drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022, has faced repeated setbacks, including a torn ACL that cost him the 2023 season and a shoulder injury that limited him to two games in 2025; he signed a one-year deal with the Titans this offseason.