After serving his 4-game suspension, St Louis Rams linebacker David Vobora filed a lawsuit against the company who allegedly supplied him with a tainted diet supplement. Vobora denied that he intentionally ingested anabolic steroids but his failed test for steroids caused his suspension from the 2009 season. He blamed the company for selling him a diet supplement which contain methyltestosterone, a banned substance in the league.

The product in question is the “The Ultimate Spray” which was sold by a supplement company SWATS (Sports With Alternatives To Steroids) from Fultondale, Ala. Vobora said that he started using the supplement when SWATS endorsers recommended the product to him which later caused the positive test. He also sent a sample to a Tennessee lab to confirm if the league’s test result was accurate. The lab also provided the same result.

In the lawsuit, Vobora asked for damages for breach of warranty and product liability. “As a result of his suspension, plaintiff David Vobora missed four important games for the St. Louis Rams during the 2009 regular season. In addition, he has suffered a loss of income derived from football-related endorsements and performance incentives. Furthermore, Plaintiff’s reputation is permanently tarnished,” said in the complaint.

Vobora who was the last player to be drafted in the 2008 NFL Draft, was able to prove his performance in the field. After 3 years he got the starting position and was able to provide the team with 15 tackles in just 3 games before his suspension.

The owner of the supplement company, Mitch Ross issued a press statement that the claim of David Vobora is baseless. Ross said that there are no banned substances in the spray. The test result of Vobora is questionable because other athletes who used the same batch of spray never tested positive for steroids. The spray contains deer antler velvet.

Ross also argued that their products are free of steroids and a lot of professional athletes from different sports are using their products but have not encounter any failed test for a banned substance. He insists that Vobora did not directly purchased the product from him but it came from a SWATS endorser.

SWATS owner also insinuated that Vobora might be using other supplements which caused his positive test. He had a proof that will prove this allegation saying that he had a picture of the locker of the player.

This is again another example why professional athletes should be very careful in choosing supplements. Vobora will have a difficulty in gaining back his tainted reputation. Steroids will always be associated on his name. Whether he was another victim of a tainted supplement, the damage to his career has been done. Right now, Vobora signed as a free agent.

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