Report: Failed Drug Test Instrumental In Ricky Williams' Retirement

Retired Dolphins running back Ricky Williams said he failed a third drug test for marijuana use, which would cost him a four-game suspension if he decides to return to the NFL, The Miami Herald reported on its Web site Thursday.Williams told the newspaper that marijuana played a larger role in his retirement than he indicated when he walked away after just five pro seasons. He said he learned of the failed test and possible suspension days before telling coach Dave Wannstedt last week that he was through playing. Williams said, however, that there were "a hundred reasons" for his retirement and that his desire to continue smoking marijuana was only one of them. "I didn't quit football because I failed a drug test," he told the Herald. "I failed a drug test because I was ready to quit football." Dolphins spokesman Neal Gulkis and NFL spokesman Greg Aiello declined comment Thursday when reached by The Associated Press. Williams told the newspaper that he is not addicted to marijuana. In May, three South Florida newspapers quoted unidentified sources saying Williams tested positive for marijuana and faced a fine of at least $650,000 for violating the substance-abuse policy for the second time since joining the Dolphins in 2002. He told the Herald for Thursday's story that he already decided to quit football before that second positive test. He appealed that fine, but received word last week that his appeal had been denied, the Herald reported. While the appeal was pending, Williams said, he continued smoking marijuana during a trip to Europe and failed a third test upon his return. He said he had been using a masking agent to cleanse his system while being randomly tested for two seasons but he didn't do that before the last test. Williams first failed a drug test soon after arriving in Miami in 2002, the Herald reported. He spent much of his two seasons with the Dolphins in the league's drug program, seeing a therapist weekly and taking eight to 10 random urine tests a month, the story said. Williams suffers from social-anxiety disorder and was a spokesman for the anti-depressant Paxil. He said marijuana helped him once he had to stop using Paxil because it didn't agree with his diet. Williams played three seasons for New Orleans but didn't blossom until he was dealt to the Dolphins in 2002 for two first-round draft picks. At times, Miami's biggest trade since 1970 looked like a steal. Williams led the NFL in 2002 with 1,853 yards rushing and broke nine team records. Last season he ran for 1,372 yards despite little offensive support. Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.