2. Drug Related Suspensions
In addition to Orton's suspension due to unprofessional conduct that was already covered, he was also suspended for WWE Wellness Policy violations. Orton's first Wellness Policy violation occurred in the summer of 2006. He was suspended for 30 days from mid-August to mid-September. One year later in August of 2007, Orton was again part of a controversy when Sports Illustrated reported that Orton received Somatropin, Nandrolone and Stanozolol through Signature Pharmacy from September 2004 until the firm was busted in February 2007. There were 11 other superstars that were suspended. Orton wasn't suspended because WWE claimed that he was already suspended in 2006. It seemed like a shady reason and simply a case of WWE not wanting to suspend a top talent. In 2010 WWE's lawyer
Jerry McDevitt said Orton was not on any Signature Pharmacy client list provided to WWE by the Albany, New York District Attorney's Office. He was also suspended in May of 2012 for failing the WWE Wellness Policy again. It was announced on
WWE.com that he would be out for 60 days. At the time, Orton was one of the top babyfaces in the company. If the August 2007 reported use of drugs counted against him he would have had three suspensions and would have been fired. Since they didn't count that one, he only had two strikes. As we reported
here on WhatCulture back in December of 2013, Orton's suspensions have been rescinded and he no longer has any strikes per the WWE Wellness Policy. This happened last summer, which was around the time when Orton was thrust back in the spotlight as the top heel in the company.