The two Minnesota Vikings defensive players will likely enjoy another full season without worrying for 4-game suspension. The NFL’s appeal to expedite the decision on the enforcement of the suspension was denied by the court of appeals. Although the league was able to get a favorable ruling from the Hennepin court about their right to impose sanctions, the imposition of the suspension for Pat and Kevin Williams was still on hold because of pending appeals.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told the AP that the court noted that the NFL has the option to seek review sooner by filing a motion to vacate the trial court’s ruling blocking the suspensions. “We are studying the decision and will decide whether to pursue that option,” Aiello said. But the league may have to wait until the end of the season before they can get what they want.

In the decision of the Court of Appeals, they noted that the NFL has not demonstrated that the case should get higher priority than others. The court also added that it does not involve issues of statewide importance. The pending appeal will not affect both sides when it comes to financial issues.

The AP report estimated that the hearing for the NFL’s appeal could only push through next year. “Under court rules, it could be mid- to late August before both sides have filed their briefs. Then it typically would take another six to eight months for the appeals court to hold oral arguments. The court then would have up to 90 days to issue its decision,” said Steve Karnowski of AP. Pat and Kevin Williams could still play the whole season. And the most interesting part is that Pat Williams is now on his final year in the Vikings. He will be retiring on October. Even if the league wins the case, the sanction will be useless already.

Peter Ginsberg, the lawyer of the Williamses was optimistic that they will win the case. “We are confident that, no matter how many appeals the NFL files and no matter how much litigation the NFL pursues, the results will not change,” he said. One of the main issues raised by the Vikings players is the alleged violation of the Minnesota laws. The two players took Starcaps, a weight loss supplement. However, it contains a banned ingredient butenamide which can mask the use of steroids. The ingredient was not disclosed on the label but the league maintained its position that the players are responsible for whatever they are taking.

The league imposed a 4-game suspension on the defensive players but it was put on hold because of so many appeals and counter-charges filed by the Williamses. The suspension was supposed to be enforced in December 2008. The court battle between the two camps has made the Starcaps case a major issue in the league. According to profootballtalk.com, the meeting last week between NFL officials and WADA representatives could be centered on the league’s steroid policy. Under WADA rules, athletes caught using diuretics are allowed to explain before imposing sanctions while the NFL imposes an automatic suspension from the game.

Pat Williams and Kevin Williams were not the only players who used the Starcap supplement. Deuce McAllister, Jamar Nesbit, Will Smith and Charles Grant were also tested positive for the substance butenamide and they also received 4-game suspension. Some of them filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer of Starcaps for not disclosing all the ingredients contained in the product.

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