a-look-at-the-past-and-the-future-of-the-e2809cwilliams-walle2809dIn December of 2008, a surprising news hit the world of the National Football League as well as several fans of the Minnesota Vikings. Two of its best defense linemen had failed the drug test done. Pat and Kevin Williams were tested positive for a diuretic. Diuretics are banned from football mainly because they can mask the effect of steroids. Although the two have not been proven to have used anabolic steroids, they were given a four-game suspension. Pat and Kevin Williams addressed the issue by suing the NFL. According to the athletes, they didn’t know that the supplement Starcaps which they were taking had a diuretic component and that component was not even listed in on the bottle. Starcaps is not banned from the NFL. The two will be facing trial this coming June 2009.

From NFL Fanhouse:

The NFL doesn’t even claim that they were using steroids, but to them, rules are rules. If the Williamses win, they will avoid a four-game suspension and possibly collect a hefty amount of damages (they are suing for $10 million in damages). If they lose, the Vikings playoff hopes will take a significant hit before the season even begins.

Whatever happens, the lawsuit has managed to put the NFL on the defensive. If the Williamses had not sued, they would have been slapped with the suspension last season which likely would have kept Minnesota out of the playoffs. Now, even if they are suspended Minnesota will have some time to prepare some backup plans. There is no way to really replace one of the best defensive tackles in the league (Kevin Williams) and one of the best run-stuffers (Pat Williams), but with time to prepare, it’s a little easier to get the backups ready during the preseason.

The pair is known as the “Williams Wall” of the Minnesota Vikings. They are not blood related but they can set up one great defense— probably the best rush defense the NFL has ever seen. In fact, other athletes have a hard time getting past these two and their absence in games will be a thorn in the Vikings’ foot.


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Posted in Steroids and Anabolic Steroids, Steroids in NFL, Steroids in Sports, steroid nation