SANTA CLARA – Return specialist Victor Bolden, already facing tougher odds to stick on the 49ers roster, drew a four-game suspension Friday from the NFL for violating its performance-enhancing drug policy.
Bolden averaged 20.8 yards on 19 punt returns last season as an undrafted rookie out of Oregon State.
“Unknowingly, I used a supplement that was on the NFL’s banned substance list,” Bolden said in a statement. “As a professional athlete, I take full responsibility for not verifying the ingredients of the supplement.”
Bolden added that “it hurts” knowing he will miss the first four games, but there was no assurances he would make the 53-man roster, anyhow.