The Washington football team is once again making headlines off the field. After a raid last week, the Drug Enforcement Administration is now investigating an assistant coach who has since been let go.

Munich/Washington – Last Friday, some players on the Washington football team were in for a surprise when several investigators from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) raided their practice facility.

As “ESPN” reports, the investigation is directed against athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion. Vermillion has been with the football team since January of last year and previously served on head coach Ron Rivera’s coaching staff for nine years while he was still employed by the Carolina Panthers.

Vermillion already released

On Monday, Washington already released Vermillion, but until something concrete materializes, he will continue to be paid by the franchise. According to the report, the DEA is investigating him on charges of unauthorised distribution of prescription drugs.

As chief of athletics staff, Vermillion would not be authorised to prescribe or dispense such drugs, unlike team doctors or therapists. In addition to his office at the training complex, his Washington home had also been searched by the DEA, he said.

As early as 2014, the DEA conducted large-scale checks for misbranded and unlawfully prescribed drugs within the NFL. In a statement, the Washington football team said the current case was unrelated to the franchise.