NEW YORK -- The NFL on Saturday confirmed that Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson admitted to NFL officials that he bought and used performance-enhancing substances while an assistant with the Chicago Bears.
Wade Wilson
Wilson
Wilson, who has been suspended for five games by the league and fined $100,000, told ESPN.com's Matt Mosley that he used a substance, which he did not specify, to treat his diabetes. He said he did not pass the drugs along to anyone else and that he had "no regrets on trying to improve my quality of life." Wilson acknowledged he acted without "proper medical supervision."
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Wilson would return to his job after his suspension ends Oct. 9.
"I accept responsibility for my mistake," Wilson said in a prepared statement issued by the Cowboys.
"Clearly, as a coach and former player, I had no intention of trying to circumvent the boundaries of competition or fair play. I now realize that this is something I should not have done. I acted without proper medical supervision and I would urge others not to make a similar mistake," he said in the statement.
According to the New York Daily News, Wilson received human growth hormone while working for the Bears from 2004-06. The league said that Harrison, Wilson and Richard Ryzde, a former doctor for the Pittsburgh Steelers, were involved in an Internet pharmaceutical distribution ring for steroids and other performance enhancers being investigated by the Albany (N.Y.) District Attorney's office.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said both Wilson's suspension and the suspension Friday of New England safety Rodney Harrison stemmed from the investigation by the Albany D.A.'s office. Authorities there have been looking into an Internet ring involving performance-enhancing drugs and allegedly involving athletes from a number of sports.
Aiello said the third NFL person involved in the investigation was Ryzde, who was fired earlier this year by the Steelers.
"I've dealt with [diabetes] almost half my life. I had no idea what I was doing was against league rules," Wilson said, adding that he regretted any embarassment he may have caused the Cowboys.
Wilson spent 17 years as a player in the league, and led the Vikings to three playoff appearances in the 1990s. He said he's had diabetes for the past 24 years, and he wears an insulin pump to help monitor his condition.
When asked if he was trying to help anyone else by supplying them drugs, Wilson, 48, said there was "no other reason at all."
"The idea that I was trying to get this for anyone else is absolutely ludicrous," Wilson said.
"Outside of myself and my fiancée, no one else knew that I was taking anything," Wilson said.
Jones said Wade had "absolutely no intention of breaking any league rules."
"He has a long track record of quality service to the NFL and community service to the cities where has played and coached," Jones said. "We recognize and support the importance placed on these matters by the National Football League. We also support Wade Wilson during this time and look forward to his contributions to the future of the Dallas Cowboys."
ESPN.com's Matt Mosley and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
