NEW YORK _ Golden Tate's appeal of a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances was denied, meaning the wide receiver will miss the first month of his first season with the Giants.
Tate said in a statement last month that he was appealing the suspension because he took prescribed medicine as part of a family fertility program, and once he realized it included a banned substance he stopped and notified the league. He met with an independent appeal committee last week. The chances of him winning were slim as the league has a zero-tolerance stance toward such banned substances regardless of intent or ignorance of ingredients.
Tate, 30, has been practicing with the Giants in training camp and participated in last week's preseason opener. He still is allowed to practice and play in preseason games this summer. His suspension will begin on Sept. 2 and he will be eligible to rejoin the Giants on Sept. 30 following their fourth game of the season against Washington.
