Goodell asks Congress to close StarCaps loophole

[TTP77]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/11/03/goodell-asks-congress-to-close-starcaps-loophole/

This is a good idea IMO. There shouldn't be different treatment for players in different states.

[Sect309Fan]

The NFL really needs to win this, or they lose a lot of power to regulate drug use in the NFL.

[Old Oilers Fan]

The NFL really needs to win this, or they lose a lot of power to regulate drug use in the NFL.

With the Government having their nose into the Baseball business you think that they will have to stand behind this.

[ZachLV27]

With the Government having their nose into the Baseball business you think that they will have to stand behind this.

I see Congress wanting to act on this and close the loophole. The problem is something like this will most likely have to be dealt with through the Supreme Court.

[don28]

The loophole allowing different states to do different things should be closed. That said, this case involving Pat Williams, Kevin Williams, Charles Grant, and Will Smith isn't cut and dry.

The product in question, StarCaps, was not listed by the NFL as a banned product or one that contained banned ingredients. The NFL had provided the players a list of products known to contain substances not allowed by the league.

The players in question tested positive for bumetanide, a diuretic used to control blood pressure. Bumetanide can also mask the appearance of steroids in urinalysis. One look at these 4 players would make it clear to anybody that these guys are not using steroids. Body beautifuls they are not.

Starcaps (http://http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d813ec617&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true)

Smith, of the NFLPA, told Congress the administrator of the league's steroids policy knew that StarCaps contained bumetanide but did not inform the players.

"This should not be a 'gotcha' game," Smith said.

Common sense should play a part here.

[TTP77]

The NFL and the NFLPA should do a better job of maintaining the banned list and getting product information to the players but really why were these guys taking this product to begin with? I don't feel sorry for these guys.

[Sect309Fan]

The NFL and the NFLPA should do a better job of maintaining the banned list and getting product information to the players but really why were these guys taking this product to begin with? I don't feel sorry for these guys.


That's a tough question. They either were taking them to keep their weight in check so as to better make the team. Or they were taking them to mask steroid use.

I still question whether testing positive for a potential drug masker that isn't illegal in the US should be against the NFL drug policy. Banning steriods makes perfect sense. But banning a legal diuretic that may or may not be associated with steroid use makes me wonder.

[TTP77]

I agree it's a fine line but these guys have access to products on the approved list that supposedly work to keep your weigh in line. Why use this? I think they knew exactly what it did and that is mask the roids.