Ex-49ers safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. suspended six games for PEDs

Free agent safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. was suspended six games by the NFL on Tuesday for violating performance-enhancing substances policy, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Gipson, 33, spent the past two seasons with the 49ers, becoming the team’s starting free safety early on in the 2022 season. 

The Wyoming product had been somewhat of an iron man in his two seasons in the Bay Area, starting 34 of 35 regular season games and all six of the 49ers’ playoff games. 

In 2023, Gipson recorded one interception and one sack across 16 games. 

Before coming to San Francisco, Gipson spent four years with the Browns, three with the Jaguars, one with the Texans and two with the Bears after catching on as an undrafted free agent in 2012.

In 2014 with the Browns, Gibson made his only career Pro Bowl team.

Gipson remains eligible to sign with a team and participate in training camp and preseason, although the six-game suspension would go into effect Week 1. 

He isn’t the only former 49er that will start the season on the sidelines due to a PED violation. 

Jimmy Garoppolo was suspended two games in February for violating the league’s policy. 

After signing a one-year deal with the Rams, Garoppolo claimed the positive test stemmed from an error he made in filing for a therapeutic use exemption for an unspecified substance.