Brian Cushing told SI.com’s Peter King recently that he believes he is a victim of what he calls ‘overtrained athlete syndrome.’ This would explain his positive test for hCG, a banned substance that ultimately led to Cushing’s four-game suspension by the NFL.
In an interview here Friday, Cushing said he thinks he knows why he tested positive for elevated levels of hCG. "Everything points to that overtrained athlete syndrome,‘’ Cushing said, walking back to the Texans’ locker room after their afternoon practice. "I’m pretty sure it is. I’m pretty positive. I didn’t take anything. It’s not a tainted supplement. So all roads lead to that.’’
What exactly is overtrained athlete syndrome? If you’re really interested, Rice University has a rundown for you. Take a look.