The Associated Press Is Reporting,
Judge blocks suspensions of Vikings’ Williamses
By ELIZABETH DUNBAR – 1 hour ago
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked the NFL’s suspension of Vikings stars Kevin and Pat Williams for violating the league’s anti-doping policy, but the players’ status for Sunday’s game at Detroit remained uncertain. Hennepin County District Judge Gary Larson issued the temporary restraining order at the players’ request, saying he wanted more time to hear arguments in the case. No further hearing date immediately was set.
The Williamses were among six players suspended for four games for testing positive for a diuretic that can be used as a masking agent for steroids. They have argued that the substance containing the diuretic didn’t list all its ingredients, and that league scientists and lawyers had information about the substance but withheld it from players.
The NFL argues that the league’s policy on banned substances is collectively bargained with the players’ association and players are responsible for what is in their bodies.
“This is one of the more difficult cases I’ve had in 23 years,” Larson said before signing the order. “If I make a mistake, I’ve got to decide on a temporary basis which side I’m able to make the mistake on.”
Larson said he would make himself available to reconsider the issue “as quickly as you’d like me to hear it.” He also said he expected lawyers for the NFL, who participated in the hearing by phone, would take the issue to federal court in Minneapolis to get the suspensions reinstated.
“There is no merit to this lawsuit and we will promptly seek to have the order reversed,” the NFL said in a statement.
Both Kevin and Pat Williams, who are not related, sat in the courtroom with their lawyers for Wednesday’s hearing, which lasted more than two hours. Both declined comment afterward.
Their attorney, Peter Ginsberg, didn’t claim victory, instead saying, “It’s a long hard road. It’s going to take a long time for them to reclaim their reputations.”
I always feel like the punishment should fit the crime so for now this is a good result. They want to ban a substance, not because of what it contains, but because of its ability to mask steroids. To me, it is like a cop trying to arrest you on a DUI because your breath smells like orange juice and might be masking vodka but he has no other proof.
If the diuretic does not do anything to unfairly enhance the athlete’s performance, then it should be allowed. This is a case of trying to take control of steroids after all these years without doing the work. They want a band aid on a full blown wound, which is fine if they want to get no where. My viewpoint is let them roid-a-way, but to say your fixing the problem by cheating, is not the answer. That is the same as cop’s breaking the laws to catch criminals, it’s unethical.
If they want to maintain standards they need to start with their own. On top of this the athletes need some help in this area, they destroy their bodies so they and the rest of the league make money, so taking a substance that will make them stronger and less injury prone benefits all.
I doubt we will see an owner cripple his own body to make the football team a winner, because that is such a crazy idea, but the players do, and when the can’t run or score anymore where are the owners and league officials then? No where my friends. One more reason we need to let the athletes make their own judgements, it is their body they are ruining!
