10 NFL Players Test Positive (Includes McAllister)

Flip · 10-25-2008, 12:17 AM

Quote:

A number of NFL players -- including Deuce McAllister and Will Smith of the New Orleans Saints -- have tested positive under the NFL's steroid policy as a result of taking water pills to lose weight, according to a report from Fox 31-Denver reporter Josina Anderson.

Anderson's report cited "a rash of positive tests." The number of players with positive tests is more than 10 and might exceed 15, but league and union sources insist to ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen that the number of cases pending are between six and eight.

Attorney David Cornwell told Mortensen he has been retained by "a number of players" to represent them in the NFL appeals process, but Cornwell wouldn't say who those players were or the exact number.

"The recent reports about pending appeals by players who are alleged to have used weight loss supplements reflect the most egregious violation of the NFL steroid policy," Cornwell said in a statement. "The foundation of the policy is both a player's right to appeal and an absolute right to confidentiality. By leaking this story, the 'source' is clearly attempting to put their thumb on the scale justice and harm these men."

Houston TV station KRIV later reported Texans long snapper Bryan Pittman also tested positive and would appeal.

"Bryan did everything humanly possible to comply with the NFL steroid policy, including obtaining doctor's written authorization to take weight loss medication," Cornwell said in a statement for the Houston station. "He did not use steroids."

Smith's listed agent, Joel Segal, was not immediately available to comment, according to Fox 31-Denver. A representative for McAllister's agent, Jim Steiner, said the agent would call that station back.

Under the NFL's steroid policy, a player's first positive test results in a four-game suspension.

McAllister and Smith both practiced Friday morning at the Saints' hotel in Watford, England. They are in London preparing for Sunday's game against San Diego.

Saints spokesman Greg Bensel, who was with the team in London, said drug testing is a league matter and the team would have no immediate comment.
National Football League spokesman Michael Signora, who is in London, said the league will not comment on the reports.

According to Anderson's report, McAllister and Smith are part of a group that tested positive for a diuretic known as Bumetanide. Others tested positive for a different substance.

"Most of them tested positive for Bumetanide," said the league source, according to Fox 31-Denver. "The last few tested positive for another substance that works similarly."

A source told Fox 31-Denver that Bumetanide "can also mask the use of other drugs or steroids."

Bumetanide is a drug belonging to a group of medicines called loop diuretics or "water pills." Its uses include the treatment of fluid retention and swelling caused by medical conditions such as congestive heart failure, liver disease and kidney disease, Fox 31-Denver reported.

-espn

Sucks for the Saints. First Bush goes down to injury, and now Deuce fails a drug test.