The players all examined good with the banned substance Bumetanide. They all appealed the suspensions, declaring that Bumetanide is an component within the over-the-counter supplement superstar Caps, and the real truth that NFL did not tell players that superstar Caps is banned. however the NFL turned down their appeals.
Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jackson wasn't suspended even although it have been described that he also examined good for Bumetanide. The NFL did not explain why Jackson wasn't suspended.
UPDATE: The NFL's official announcement is below.
FOR immediate introduce December 2, 2008
NFL SUSPENDS 6 PLAYERS FOR VIOLATING protection ON STEROIDS AND linked SUBSTANCES
The NFL announced at the moment the suspension without the spend for 4 matches of 6 players that violated the NFL protection on Anabolic Steroids and linked Substances.
The players particularly violated a longstanding provision with the protection relating with the utilization of diuretics and water pills, which serve as masking agents for steroids and are possibly hazardous with the good being of players.
The protection says the real truth that use of so-called "blocking" or "masking" agents, this kind of as diuretics and water pills, is prohibited knowning that a good check will not be excused because of the real truth that it outcomes out of your use of the dietary supplement that unknowingly included a banned substance. supplementations are not regulated or monitored by technique of the federal government and players are already warned concerning the hazards of supplement use.
"You as well when you by yourself are accountable for what goes into your body," the protection has usually stated. "Claiming that you just utilised only legally available nutritional supplementations will not help you within an appeal...Even if they are purchased over-the-counter from the known establishment, there's currently no way being certain that they contain the ingredients detailed with the packaging or haven't been tainted with prohibited substances..
.If you hold these products, you select to achieve this AT your own RISK! For your own good being and achievement within the league, we strongly entice you to definitely continue being clear of the utilization of supplementations altogether, or in the exceptionally very least being very careful about what you select to take."
The 6 players are each suspended with the very last 4 matches with the regular-season. once the player's group qualifies with the playoffs, he is eligible to come back with the active roster on Monday, December 29. The suspended players are:
Charles Grant, New Orleans Deuce McAllister, New Orleans Bryan Pittman, Houston Will Smith, New Orleans Kevin Williams, Minnesota Pat Williams, Minnesota
Latest NFL pictures Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware (94) celebrates subsequent sacking san francisco bay area 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill (13) by technique of the NFL basketball gambling Nov. 23, 2008, in Irving, Texas. The thirty days of December has basically turn out being for Dallas (8-4) a sequence of playoff matches just to continue being in contention with the real thing. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) AP This 2008 season image offered by technique of the NFL existing Houston Texans basketball participant Bryan Pittman. The NFL suspended Pittman for 4 matches without the spend on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008 for violating the league's anti-doping policy. Also suspended are already New Orleans Saints basketball players Charles Grant, Deuce McAllister, Will Smith and Minnesota Vikings basketball players Kevin Williams and Pat Williams. All 6 are already punished for employing a diuretic, which could serve as a masking agent for steroids. (AP Photo/NFL) NO revenue AP These 2008 season design offered by technique of the NFL existing New Orleans Saints basketball players from left; Charles Grant, Deuce McAllister and Will Smith. The 3 players are already suspended for 4 matches without the spend by technique of the NFL on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008 for violating the league's anti-doping policy. Also suspended are already defensive linemen Kevin and Pat Williams of Minnesota, and Houston Texans basketball participant Bryan Pittman. All 6 are already punished for employing a diuretic, which could serve as a masking agent for steroids. (AP Photo/NFL) AP These 2008 season design offered by technique of the NFL existing Minnesota Vikings basketball players from left, Kevin Williams and Pat Williams. every little bit as players are already suspended for 4 matches without the spend by technique of the NFL on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008 for violating the league's anti-doping policy. Also suspended are already New Orleans Saints basketball players Charles Grant, Deuce McAllister, Will Smith and Houston Texans basketball participant Bryan Pittman. All 6 are already punished for employing a diuretic, which could serve as a masking agent for steroids. (AP Photo/NFL) NO revenue AP These 2008 season design offered by technique of the NFL existing Minnesota Vikings basketball players from left, Kevin Williams and Pat Williams. every little bit as players are already suspended for 4 matches without the spend by technique of the NFL on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008 for violating the league's anti-doping policy. Also suspended are already New Orleans Saints basketball players Charles Grant, Deuce McAllister,
Will Smith and Houston Texans basketball participant Bryan Pittman. All 6 are already punished for employing a diuretic, which could serve as a masking agent for steroids. (AP Photo/NFL) NO revenue AP These 2008 season design offered by technique of the NFL existing New Orleans Saints basketball players from left; Charles Grant, Deuce McAllister and Will Smith. The 3 players are already suspended for 4 matches without the spend by technique of the NFL on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008 for violating the league's anti-doping policy. Also suspended are already defensive linemen Kevin and Pat Williams of Minnesota, and Houston Texans basketball participant Bryan Pittman. All 6 are already punished for employing a diuretic, which could serve as a masking agent for steroids. (AP Photo/NFL) AP These 2008 season design offered by technique of the NFL existing Minnesota Vikings basketball players from left, Kevin Williams and Pat Williams. every little bit as players are already suspended for 4 matches without the spend by technique of the NFL on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008 for violating the league's anti-doping policy. Also suspended are already New Orleans Saints basketball players Charles Grant, Deuce McAllister, Will Smith and Houston Texans basketball participant Bryan Pittman. All 6 are already punished for employing a diuretic, which could serve as a masking agent for steroids. (AP Photo/NFL) AP ny Giants quarterback Eli Manning wander into Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008. Giants superstar receiver Plaxico Burress, who shot himself within the suitable thigh in a brand ny nightclub very last weekend, invested about 6 nights in the basketball stadium Tuesday. (AP Photo/Mike Derer) AP ny Giants basketball coach Tom Coughlin walks past reporters outdoors Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008. Coughlin wouldn't comment on Giants superstar receiver Plaxico Burress, who shot himself within the suitable thigh in a brand ny nightclub very last weekend and was within the stadium Tuesday. (AP Photo/Mike Derer) AP Minnesota Vikings defensive tackles Kevin Williams (93) and Pat Williams (94), proven by technique of a break within an NFL basketball gambling on the way in which to the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 9, 2008, in Minneapolis, are already among 6 NFL players suspended for 4 matches each for violating the league's anti-doping policy. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) AP
The appeals system in such a make a difference included near to thirty nights of hearings. NFL Executive Vice President of Labor and League Counsel Jeff Pash noticed and decided all with the appeals except for Bryan Pittman's. The appeals officer for Pittman was previous NFL Executive Vice President and League Counsel Jay Moyer. subsequent are important excerpts from Jeff Pash's decision upholding the suspensions:
Bumetanide, a strong diuretic, has lengthy been a prohibited substance under the protection and it is similarly banned by other drug-testing programs. Diuretics are banned for two prospects to first, because of the real truth that they could be utilised to cover the utilization of performance-enhancing drugs; and second, because of the real truth that they can pose a threat to participant good being and safety.
The protection is made of several specific warnings about dietary supplements. NFL players obtained individual advisories concerning supplementations (attached). These included two memos from Dr. John Lombardo (the program's impartial administrator) entitled "Weight decrease Products," that are already sent to players in July of 2007, and yet still again in July of 2008.