Denver Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe was suspended by the NFL for the team's first four games of the coming season as he was found to have violated the league's policy on using performance enhancing drugs, as per NBC Sports' Pro Football Talk.

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The 2013 AFC Champion formally apologized to his fans, team, and teammates with regards to his ordeal and disclosed that he was not aware that the substance he consumed during the summer was not allowed by league rules.

"The medication is not a substance which would enhance my on field performance in any way and I genuinely was unaware that it was prohibited, but players are responsible for what is in their bodies," the four-year veteran said in an official statement. "I will certainly exercise far greater caution in the future and will seek advice relating to the permissibility of any and all medications."

Wolfe was one of the Broncos starters at his position and is perhaps the most valuable, so the team would certainly miss him when they open the season against the Baltimore Ravens on September 13.

Denver is already skeptical of their defensive schemes even if Wolfe would be around because of the recent medical operations that had been done on their two middle linebackers Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan. The team would now have to rely on three-year pro Malik Jackson, sophomore Kenny Anunike, and new recruit Vance Walker to stand firm on defense at least for the first month of the new season, as per Yahoo Sports.

"I'm very disappointed that I can't help my team for the first four weeks of the season, but I look forward to a great season with the Broncos and can't wait to get back on the field in week five," Wolfe added.

Bleacher Report indicated that Wolfe's penalty is another example of the league stricter rules when it comes to enforcing its PED policy.

The 6-foot-5, 285-pound behemoth can attend training camp and play during preseason games before the one-month suspension which starts on September 5.

Wolfe had 11.5 sacks, 91 tackles, and three pass deflections in three seasons for the Broncos. He was also the 2011 co-Big East Defensive Player of the Year during his college stint at the University of Cincinnati playing for the Bearcats.

TagsNFL, NFL 2015, NFL news, NFL News 2015, NFL rumors, NFL Rumors 2015, Derek Wolfe, Denver Broncos