Dec 12 2008
NFL Hit a Strong Execution for Steroid Policy
The NFL is implementing their steroid policy more serious this time, which becomes a little too hard for some players according to the report written by Geoff Mosher of CourierPostOnline.com. For this month of December, the league handed down suspensions to six players—which includes the two defensive tackles of the Minnesota Vikings, Kevin and Pat Williams. The two Williamses in particular received four games suspension for violating the anti-doping policy of the league. Right now they are still waiting for the courts decision on this matter.The announcement of the league prompted a chain of proceedings, beginning with the NFL Player’s Association down to the NFL.
As what has been mentioned in the previous reports, the core of the issue is the StarCaps supplements which contain a diuretic. Five out of the six players were suspended for the claim that they took the same drug. The diuretic includes Bumetanide, a prohibited substance by the NFL because it can mask the presence of steroids in the body. However, the players argue that the problem with this is that the StarCaps did not list Bumetanide on its label. For this reason, they asserted their innocence for ingesting a banned substance in their body.
“I definitely was not trying to cheat in any form,” mentioned by the running back of the Saints, Deuce McAllister, one of the suspended players.”I tried to do everything the right way.” The NFL response to this is “trying isn’t enough. It’s your body, and your responsibility to know.” Mosher’s report also claimed that the NFL is really constantly ahead among the other professional sport leagues when it comes to being stringent on the enforcement of steroid policy. This is the reason why they appear to ignore in giving sympathy—so to avoid breaking their image.
Meanwhile, NFL explained that it is very perceivable that those who took StarCaps have the intention to lessen their weight, an expected diuretic’s effect. The league have also stressed that players are weekly weighed and they are aware that there are obvious consequences for them once they over or under weight.
In fact, one of the six suspended players, Pat Williams, was recorded to weigh 317 pounds. And now, he is already recorded to weigh to nearly 350 pounds. Hence, the league has speculated the possibility of the attempt to cheat the system by the suspended players. The league stated that there is no professional athlete these days is ever beyond steroids accusations.
“I don’t know how much of an opinion we’re even allowed to have anymore when it comes to NFL issues, but obviously I completely disagree with it,” uttered by Scott Fujita, Saints linebacker who is not included in the suspended players. “I think it’s stupid. I think it’s wrong. I’m not surprised, though, in the least bit. The league says they look at the steroid policy every year in the offseason. This is one of those years where there will be a lot of pressure for them to look at it closely, because it’s just not right.”
So far, report says that not a single NFC South team has lost a home division match for this season.
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