Jets linebacker Pace banned for four games for doping

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The NFL has handed New York Jets linebacker Calvin Pace a four-game suspension without pay for violating its policy on performance-enhancing substances, the league said on Thursday.

Pace, who led the Jets with a career-best four fumble recoveries last season while ranking second with seven sacks, will miss the first four games of the 2009 campaign.

The 28-year-old will start his ban with the regular season opener against the Houston Texans on September 13 and will be eligible to return for the October 12 game against the Miami Dolphins.

In a statement released by the Jets, Pace said: "This is a situation that resulted from an over-the-counter dietary supplement that contained a substance I did not know violated the league's policy.

"I am responsible for what I put into my body and I should have paid closer attention to the league's guidelines. I regret this has happened and apologize to my team mates, the entire Jets organization as well as the fans."

(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles, editing by Tony Jimenez)