Santa Clara, Calif. -- Coach Jim Harbaugh has "definitely noticed" the string of performance-enhancing-drug suspensions that have hit the San Francisco 49ers' chief division rival, the Seattle Seahawks, over the past 18 months.
"It has no place in an athlete's body," Harbaugh said of performance-enhancing drugs in general. "Play by the rules.
Added Harbaugh, the former Michigan quarterback: "You always want to be above reproach, especially when you're good, because you don't want people to come back and say, 'They're winning because they're cheating.' That's always going to be a knee-jerk reaction from people I've found in my experience, ever since I was a little kid."
The Seahawks, who finished a half-game behind the 49ers in last season's NFC West standings, have had six players test positive for performance-enhancing substances since December 2011. Only cornerback Richard Sherman escaped a four-game suspension upon appeal.
Harbaugh, speaking at the start of the 49ers' three-day minicamp Tuesday, did not chastise the Seahawks directly for the officially undisclosed violations.
"You don't know what it is," Harbaugh said of the drugs in question. "Even when people say what it is, you don't know that's what it is. The NFL doesn't release what it actually is. So, you have no idea.
Harbaugh said the 49ers have a "constant theme" warning their players about banned substances.
"We want to be above reproach in everything, and do everything by the rules," Harbaugh said. "Because if you cheat, then you've already lost, according to Bo Schembechler. And Bo Schembechler is about next to the word of God as you can get in my mind. It's not the word of God, but it's close."
Harbaugh played quarterback for Schembechler from 1983-86 and his father, Jack Harbaugh, was an assitant coach under Schembechler.
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Jim Harbaugh on Bo's coaching: 'It's not the word of God, but it's close'