The NFL handed Arizona Cardinals linebacker Markus Bailey a six-game suspension Tuesday for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy, ensuring the fifth-year Purdue product will be out of action until at least Jan.

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Markus Bailey was suspended six games without pay for violating the performance-enhancing substances policy, the NFL announced on Tuesday.

Cardinals linebacker Markus Bailey is pushing back against his six-game ban by the NFL as both the player and his legal team labeled the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy “unforgiving strict.” Bailey was found to have violated that policy, and the punishment by the league will keep him out until at least Jan. 5.