McAllister insists he played by rules for doping

Deuce McAllister knew coming to London that he was being investigated for violating the NFL's steroid policy, but insisted Sunday that he had done "everything that we were asked to do" to follow the league's drug policy.

McAllister and New Orleans Saints teammate Will Smith reportedly are among several players who tested positive for a weight-loss diuretic that can be used as a masking agent for steroids.

Saints coach Sean Payton refused to comment on the reports after New Orleans beat the San Diego Chargers 37-32 at Wembley Stadium.

McAllister stopped short of saying he tested positive, but said he had known about the investigation since before it was first reported by Fox 31 television in Denver on Friday.

"We've been kind of going through this process for a while," said McAllister, who ran for 55 yards and a touchdown against the Chargers. "I guess you guys just found out about it at this point. But whatever happens, that's what's going to happen. We've hired counsel. He's going to do his job to kind of put the case together and however the NFL rules, that's the way it will be.

Payton again referred all questions to the league.

"It's a league policy; it's not a club's position to comment on," Payton said. "I think the league will handle it, and they're the ones that will comment in regards to it. That's really it."

McAllister, who is the Saints' career leader in both yards and touchdowns rushing, said he hoped fans wouldn't think he tried to cheat.

"You hate to put yourself in a situation like this because you not only play by the rules, not only these eight years that I've been here in the league but four years of college and four years of high school," he said. "You always want to play by the rules, and that's what we've tried to do, myself as well as other individuals. ... We've done everything that we were asked to do, that the league has asked us to do. I mean, that's what we've done."

Smith said he couldn't talk about the case.

"I don't really want to comment on it," the defensive end told The Associated Press. "I'm just focused on football, and we'll see what happens. ... I'm not worried. Whatever happens, happens. It's out of my control."

McAllister said the media attention over the alleged violations had not affected the team's preparations.

"Whenever you're paid to do a job and you perform, that's what you have to do," he said. "As far as the appeal process or the suspension or whatever it may be, however you want to label it, that will all work itself out."

He also said there were more details that had not been revealed to media yet.

"I don't know how much you guys know," he said. "My counsel, he will put this case together, but there's more to the story than just a couple of lines."