Grady Jackson, Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle, has followed the example of New Orleans Saints Jamar Nesbit.

Jackson is also suing Nikki Haskell’s StarCaps for getting him banned for four games, the typical penalty for first time offenders of the NFL’s policy on anabolic steroids and related substances.

Jackson and Nesbit are just two of the several NFL players who got suspended for doping for testing positive for bumetanide. It was alleged that StarCaps diet pills were tainted with the loop diuretic.

Bumetanide is among the NFL’s prohibited compounds since it is sometimes used as a masking agent for performance-enhancing drugs including anabolic steroids.

From the StarCaps.com is this statement: “We’ve received notice of a problem with an NFL player.We have referred the matter to our counsel and are taking all necessary steps to ensure that our customers receive product that is safe and effective. We have temporarily suspended shipping of StarCaps pending the results of our investigation.”

The other players who got involved in the bumetanide controversy were defensive tackles Pat Williams and Kevin Williams of the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints trio Deuce McAllister, Will Smith and Charles Grant.

There was discussion that Grady Jackson was going to buy steroids and diuretics, but is now blaming starcaps on his problems.  Grady Jackson has been known to buy steroids in the past in the fairly open, which he shouldn’t do.

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You must have read by now countless blogs tackling the latest controversy in the National Football League re several players testing positive for Bumetanide. The controversy arises not on the number of players; it was significant based on either report – Fox 31 television in Denver says there are between six to10 players who tested positive for this masking agent while ESPN.com says the number may exceed 15 – but on the way the names of the two athletes had popped out in the media reports.

Fox 31’s Josina Anderson reported that three or four positive tests emanated from the New Orleans Saints and named two athletes from that team. Saints’ Deuce McAllister and Will Smith are among the players who may face suspension, said the Fox 31 report.

The NFL is yet to react on the reports; however, sports and entertainment attorney David Cornwell has taken umbrage at the leaked information. It has been reported by AP that Cornwell will facilitate the appeal cases of some of the athletes involved.

“The author of the first report should be denied credentials and access to NFL games and other league events until she discloses her source.  Protecting players’ rights to confidentiality under the Policy is far more important than protecting the First Amendment rights of the coward who leaked confidential information or the competitive interest of a writer who is trying to scoop her colleagues.  The source knew he/she was doing something wrong and the writer encouraged it by offering anonymity.  They have no legitimate interests to protect,” Cornwell said in his email to ProFootballTalk.

“Everybody involved knows the confidentiality rules,” Cornwell added.  “The right to confidentiality overrides a reporter’s desire to break a story.  There is no public interest or public right to know.  The confidentiality rule presumes that nobody has right to know while the process moves forward.  Confidentiality is the cornerstone of every workplace testing program. It must be protected against any perceived competing interest — especially an unrelated party’s interest.”

But do you think sports fans, particularly football fans, are really that concerned about use of steroids and masking agents by the players? Or about whether or not a player’s privacy has been breached? We think not! Sports fans want to be entertained.

Remember what happened in the Major League Baseball. During the McGwire-Sosa race to beat Roger Maris’ homerun record stadiums were easily filled to capacity. When the MLB adopted a stricter anti-doping policy, and sluggers’ home runs dwindled, there had been a significant decline in the ticket sales. Obviously, baseball fans spend their legal tender to see home runs. Similarly, football fans want to see more touchdowns, and more forceful bumps-and-runs and aggression on the field. If players are using steroids and other performance enhancers, fans couldn’t care less. Fans buy tickets to see action and do not mind if players have receding hairlines, zits or zilch testosterone level. Fans just want to shout: “Let’s get it on!”

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According to news reports, New Orleans Saints’ Deuce McAllister and Will Smith were among the several players who violated NFL’s steroid policy and related substances.

Fox 31 television in Denver reported that there are between six to 10 players who have tested positive for Bumetanide, a diuretic. ESPN.com, meanwhile, reported the number is more than 10 and may even exceed 15.

The sport league has not offered any comment on the reports so far, but attorney David Cornwell, who is reportedly handling some of the athletes’ appeal cases, has stated his disapproval about the reports, particularly the naming of the two athletes.

“These men are entitled to confidentiality and entitled to go through an appeal process, so the (Fox 31) report … is completely unfair,” Cornwell said. “The cornerstone of any workplace testing program, especially one in professional sports with high-profile people, is confidentiality.

“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. 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 of justice and harm these men.”

Cornwell refused to name any of his clients or divulge the exact number of the athletes involved.

Just last month, another Saints player Jamar Nesbit was also suspended for violating NFL’s policy on anabolic steroids and related substances. Nesbit was barred from playing for four games, and he has rejoined his team’s active roster Monday, October 20.

Bumetanide is a diuretic and this type of compound works by facilitating weight loss through its promotion of water loss via urine excretion. Diuretics are often used as masking agents because they have the ability to dilute urine by increasing renal flow, making it difficult to for laboratories to detect anabolic steroids and other banned compounds. For this reason, diuretics have been included in the World Anti-Doping Agency’s 2007 prohibited list.

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Football players apparently become exposed to steroids at a very young age. No wonder steroid use in the NFL is quite pervasive. Here’s a news report from Sun Herald:

A former Gulf Coast Community College quarterback has been given a five-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to selling steroids.

Nineteen-year-old Jared Foster entered the plea Wednesday in Madison County Circuit Court.
A judge ordered Foster into a six-to-eight-month boot camp-style rehabilitation program at the state prison. The judge says Foster will go to prison if he doesn’t complete the program.

Foster was arrested in January after allegedly selling anabolic steroids to an informant.

At the time of the 2007 sale, Foster was playing for Gulf Coast, helping the Bulldogs win a share of the NJCAA/Jcfootball.com. By the time of his arrest, Foster had transferred to Ole Miss and was expected to sign with the football team. After his arrest, his scholarship offer was pulled.

There have been countless reports that suggest steroid use in football, particularly in the NFL, is more widespread than tests indicated. Lyle Alzado had revealed in his interview with Sports Illustrated prior to his death in 1992 that 90 percent of NFL players were ‘on the stuff’.

“I started taking anabolic steroids in 1969 and never stopped. It was addicting, mentally addicting. Now I’m sick, and I’m scared. Ninety percent of the athletes I know are on the stuff. We’re not born to be 300 lbs or jump 30ft. But all the time I was taking steroids, I knew they were making me play better. I became very violent on the field and off it. I did things only crazy people do. Once a guy sideswiped my car and I beat the hell out of him. Now look at me. My hair’s gone, I wobble when I walk and have to hold on to someone for support, and I have trouble remembering things. My last wish? That no one else ever dies this way.”

Alzado died at the age of 43 due to brain tumor. He attributed his disease to his of anabolic steroids; his physician, however, did not agree with Alzado’s assertion.

Then it was Jim Haslett’s turn to confess in 2005. The former Steelers player admitted he had been using steroids throughout his career and that he was not just the one who was doing some juicing. Haslett said that the Pittsburgh Steelers teams, from the 1970s to 1980s, had used steroids to dominate the sport.

The Steelers are the oldest and most championed franchise in the American Football Conference, winning the Super Bowl five times.

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