Chargers linebacker Stephen Cooper suspended

SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - San Diego Chargers linebacker Stephen Cooper was suspended by the NFL on Tuesday for violating the league's substance abuse policy and will miss the first four games of next season.

Cooper's ban begins on August 30 and he is eligible to return to the team's active roster on September 29, the day after the Chargers' game against the Oakland Raiders.

"Obviously we're disappointed, just as I know Stephen is," Chargers head coach Norv Turner said in a statement. "Coop made a mistake and now must deal with the consequences. It's unfortunate, but we'll deal with it and move on."

Cooper can participate fully in the team's off-season program.

"I regret that I mistakenly took a stimulant that I did not realize at the time was banned by the NFL," he said.

"I support the NFL's anti-doping policies and understand that I must serve a suspension even though the stimulant that I took was not used before any game and was not used to enhance my performance.

"I apologize to the NFL, my team, my coaches and to my fans, and I look forward to continuing to help the Chargers toward our goal of winning the Super Bowl in the upcoming season."

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Ed Osmond)