PHILADELPHIA, US - The National Football League suspended Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Joselio Hanson for four games on Wednesday for violating anti-doping rules.

Hanson's lawyer, David Cornwell, said in a statement that Hanson tested positive for a diuretic after last year's National Conference championship game against Arizona.

"The urine specimen that Joselio provided after the game tested positive for a diuretic," Cornwell said.

"Joselio did not use steroids or any other substance that would enhance his performance."

Cornwell said Hanson used the product because he "felt bloated" after eating a Chinese meal, taking a remedy that turned out to be a diuretic.

Cornwell also denounced the NFL's inclusion of diuretics on their banned list, saying it shouldn't be assumed they are used to mask the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

"It is noteworthy that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recently implemented amendments that eviscerate the misplaced presumption about diuretics embedded in the NFL's steroid policy and reduce discipline for diuretics to include warnings and, where appropriate, suspension," Cornwell said. --AFP