CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Josh Gordon's petition for reinstatement from his indefinite drug ban was denied Tuesday by the NFL, a league spokesman told cleveland.com.

The Browns' receiver, who was suspended Feb. 3 of 2015 and sat out all last season, can reapply later this year, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said. He provided no timetable, but a league source said Gordon can try again Aug. 1, which is right after the start of training camp.

It means his availability for the 2016 season is in serious jeopardy, because the league can still decide on his case "when appropriate'' after his application. Normally, they try to make such decisions within about 60 days, but it's up the discretion of Commissioner Roger Goodell.

The league will need to see a serious commitment from Gordon to his program, including a possible stint in an inpatient rehab facility.

The news comes one day after Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports reported that Gordon had failed another league-administered drug test. Garafolo reported that Gordon tested positive for marijuana, and that both the A and B samples were also diluted, which means he may have tried to cover up the use.

The amount of marijuana in the samples was less than the 35 nanograms required for a positive test, according to the report. But a diluted sample that contains traces of a banned substance constitutes a positive test for a player in Stage Two or Stage Three of the program. Gordon is in Stage Three.

If the positive test had occurred after Gordon had been reinstated, he would've been suspended indefinitely again, but at least for another year. Therefore, he has no margin for error between now and Aug. 1, and he'll have to convince Goodell that it won't happen again.

"When these things happen, it's about trying to avoid them in the future," Goodell said during his Super Bowl press conference. "I'm hopeful that Josh understands that he's going to have to conduct himself differently going forward to be a member of the NFL and to be representing the Cleveland Browns, or any team in the NFL."

The Browns declined to comment Tuesday on the league's decision.

After news of the failed test broke Monday, Gordon took to Twitter to tell the world it was a non-story.

Those close to Gordon say the former All-Pro receiver seems confident that he'll rebound from this setback and be reinstated the second time around. They say he's been working hard, adhering to his program and doesn't believe he "failed'' the test.

Another source close to the situation questioned whether or not Gordon will ever make it back, especially if he sits out this season.

One small bit of positive news for Gordon, a source told cleveland.com, is that he's not actually living with former Browns teammate and party-boy Johnny Manziel in Los Angeles, as was reported Monday by ESPN. The report came on the heels of Manziel telling the world in a TMZ video that he was living with Broncos linebacker Von Miller, only for Manziel to later retract it and apologize to Miller.

That's good for Gordon, because Manziel -- who's under investigation in Dallas and by the NFL for possible domestic violence -- is out partying every night and making no apologies for it, as usual.

Gordon, who's been suspended for 27 of his last 32 games with the Browns, has steadfastly maintained that he's not an addict, but a stay in inpatient rehab would go a long way toward convincing the NFL he's serious about coming back.

As it is, Gordon, who will turn 25 on Wednesday, will miss at least all of the off-season program and the first part of training camp, meaning he won't be around for the installation of Hue Jackon's offense. He also won't be on hand to develop timing and chemistry with Robert Griffin III, his former Baylor teammate, or with the quarterback the Browns select in the draft.

But that might not matter. The Browns are likely at the end of their rope after that this latest incident and ready to move on.

"I always learned something a long time ago -- you never worry about something you never had," Jackson said last month at the NFL Annual Meeting. "I've never had any contact with him, so I'm going to plan on what's in our building now and go from there."

Browns Executive Vice President Sashi Brown also grew tired of Gordon questions during a small group session with local beat writers at the meetings.

"I would just say probably enough Josh chatter," Brown said. "I know he's intriguing, but really for us, we're focus on the guys that are on our roster. And if Josh comes back, great, and if he doesn't, we're ready."

All told, Gordon has been suspended for 42 of a possible 77 games dating back to his senior year at Baylor.

It remains to be seen if that's about to become 58 out of 93.