National Football League

Antler supplier never saw Lewis use

Published Feb. 1, 2013 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The man who reportedly supplied Ray Lewis with deer antler spray can't confirm the Baltimore Ravens linebacker ever used the stuff.

Sports Illustrated reported Tuesday that Lewis sought help from a company called Sports With Alternatives To Steroids (SWATS), which says its deer-antler spray and pills contain a naturally occurring banned product connected to human growth hormone.

Mitch Ross spoke for nearly an hour outside the Super Bowl media center Friday in a bizarre session that revealed very little about his connection with Lewis. The linebacker has denied ever using the substance.

Asked if Lewis ever tried deer antler spray, Ross said, ''I never saw him put it in his mouth.''

Ross said some Ravens players used his ''performance chips'' in the playoffs. Those are not banned by the NFL.