Court Blocks NFL

[CaptnKirk]

Found to be using banned substance

The NFL Doctors and Lawyers knew that Starcaps contained a banned substance, and failed to notify the Players Association.
They kept it quite so the players couldn't actually take steroids, a then claim that they tested positive from taking Starcaps.

The company that made and distributed Starcaps itself is in violation of Federal drug laws, since the banned substance in Starcaps
Bumetanide is not an 'over-the-counter' substance, but is available by prescription only.

They have taken it off the shelfs, recalled all product, and since it is not listed on the label are legally liable for all damages to users.

The Feds will have fun with this mess.

 

[NeoV]

I believe the issue is that the NFL says it did notify players of this product - the players' legal folks are saying the NFL told players not to endorse the product, but not that it contained banned substances.

I think the suspensions are bogus - these guys weren't trying to cheat the system or anything.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Same here. I wouldn't want any leniency for NFL players who are found to have taken a banned substance, but in this situation it seems ridiculous to suspend them for so long for what was a complete accident. Of course, the fact that two of the players are hugely important to my home team the Vikings (Pat and Kevin Williams, the "Williams Wall" defensive tackles) may color my opinion, but I'd feel the same for any other players. As I recall, several players on the New Orleans Saints are affected as well.

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
Same here. I wouldn't want any leniency for NFL players who are found to have taken a banned substance, but in this situation it seems ridiculous to suspend them for so long for what was a complete accident. Of course, the fact that two of the players are hugely important to my home team the Vikings (Pat and Kevin Williams, the "Williams Wall" defensive tackles) may color my opinion, but I'd feel the same for any other players. As I recall, several players on the New Orleans Saints are affected as well.

It has nothing to do with your bias. Those suspensions were crap and I'm not really a fan of how Goodell has run the league thus far. He's trying to be some tyrannical dictator, rather than using any sense or discretion.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Yeah, that's the thing. I can see what he's going for - he doesn't want to be seen as being soft on players who take performance-enhancing drugs. Baseball's reputation has been tarnished by the perception that everyone in charge of the game (the player's union or the MLB itself) was in on it.

A suspension should result if an athlete took steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs, whether accidentally or intentionally, or if the athlete knowingly takes a diuretic that could be used to mask steroid use. But unintentionally taking a diuretic that has no effect on performance should not be grounds for suspension.

 

[TallBill]

I don't get how the NHL can suspend a player for 6 games for saying "sloppy seconds" but the NFL can't suspend players for breaking a substance abuse policy. I don't care if the league didn't tell them not to take starcaps, it's up to the players to know what is going into their body.

I've taken all sorts of supplements before, but have not had any rules or guidelines that limit what I can take. If I did, I'd sure as hell be 10 times more careful about choosing what to put into my body.

 

[NeoV]

I'm not sure blaming players for unlisted ingredients is worth suspending them for 4 games though, it's the same suspension as guys who knowingly take roids and try to get away with it, like Merriman did.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: TallBill
I don't get how the NHL can suspend a player for 6 games for saying "sloppy seconds" but the NFL can't suspend players for breaking a substance abuse policy. I don't care if the league didn't tell them not to take starcaps, it's up to the players to know what is going into their body.

I've taken all sorts of supplements before, but have not had any rules or guidelines that limit what I can take. If I did, I'd sure as hell be 10 times more careful about choosing what to put into my body.

This.

The NFL has a list of supplements that are safe. The NFL has also told the players if you take something not on the list then you are taking a risk. This item was not on the list.

Its clear cut, they broke the rules.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Well, considering the substance wasn't even listed in the ingredients, I don't see how you can just say, flat out, that they broke the rules and have to be punished the same way as if they had actually tried to take a banned substance. And it's not a performance-enhancing substance either so it's not like they should be thrown out for that. At the very least, their suspensions should be reduced to one or two games.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: TallBill
I don't get how the NHL can suspend a player for 6 games for saying "sloppy seconds" but the NFL can't suspend players for breaking a substance abuse policy. I don't care if the league didn't tell them not to take starcaps, it's up to the players to know what is going into their body.

I've taken all sorts of supplements before, but have not had any rules or guidelines that limit what I can take. If I did, I'd sure as hell be 10 times more careful about choosing what to put into my body.

i would agree IF the substance was listed on the ingredient list. there was NO way for the players to know it was in it.

The NFL knew it was in it but didn't tell the players and without a lot of research the players wouldn't know. since it was not on the banned list and it was not listed on the product i don't fault the players.

 

[Fear No Evil]

Well I guess if the courts are worried about this they aren't doing stupid things like trying to legislate from the bench.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: TallBill
I don't get how the NHL can suspend a player for 6 games for saying "sloppy seconds" but the NFL can't suspend players for breaking a substance abuse policy. I don't care if the league didn't tell them not to take starcaps, it's up to the players to know what is going into their body.

I've taken all sorts of supplements before, but have not had any rules or guidelines that limit what I can take. If I did, I'd sure as hell be 10 times more careful about choosing what to put into my body.

i would agree IF the substance was listed on the ingredient list. there was NO way for the players to know it was in it.

The NFL knew it was in it but didn't tell the players and without a lot of research the players wouldn't know. since it was not on the banned list and it was not listed on the product i don't fault the players.

The NFL says they DID tell the players about StarCaps. Or rather they told the teams and the NFLPA. The NFL also says they've warned players about taking supplements, and that taking supplements with undisclosed ingredients would not be accepted as an excuse for testing positive. If what the NFL says is true, the players really have no defense.