Minnesota Supreme Court opened the way of the NFL to suspend defensive lineman Minnesota Vikings Pat Williams, perhaps the last chapter in the case of doping closely monitored.
In order for a page without comment, the Court refused to consider appeal Williams' decision that went against Pat Williams and teammate Kevin Williams, who are not related. The order was signed Wednesday by the Chief Justice Lorie Gildea and made public Thursday.
Justice Alan Page, a former Viking, did not took part to the decision.
The Williamses were initially suspended in 2008 to take the StarCaps weight loss supplement, which contained a banned diuretic called bumetanide may mask the presence of steroids. They led a long battle against suspensions through the federal courts and d' States, and the League allowed them to play pending a final solution of the case.
Kevin Williams has abandoned the fight last month, because his attorney, said that the defensive tackle was tired of the issue.
Thursday, spokesman for the NFL Greg Aiello, said the decision means that the case is finally over.
"Each court to examine requests for the players and the [NFL Players Association] in this case found that they are without foundation and found actions of the NFL to be compatible with the collectively negotiated policy and the law of the State" Aiello said in a release. "" "". We are pleased that the action of the Supreme Court of Minnesota today put an end to the dispute. ?
The Williamses, who were never accused of taking steroids, said that they did not know StarCaps contained bumetanide, which has not been registered on the label.
Their lawyer, Peter Ginsberg, refused to say that the legal fight is more because he had not had the opportunity to speak with Pat Williams, but he expects that the NFL will proceed to suspensions of four matches against the players. He expressed the hope that the case ultimately negotiates the best protections testing and privacy for players.
He challenged the NFL victory statement, saying that the League had lost on important legal issues along the way. Ginsberg, said the decision means that players will suffer "a dent in their reputation for no good reason and the NFL believes that this is a victory." This position speaks for itself. ?
The case has established that the NFL is bound by the laws of Minnesota in the workplace of drogues, screening, he said.
"Kevin and Pat had the courage and the strength to fight against la NFL, said Ginsberg." Because a large part of their battle was to protect their teammates and all employees in Minnesota, they have won the war. ?
The case was watched by other major league sports - including MLB, NBA and NHL - which supports the NFL and said that their drug testing programs would be at risk if the players were allowed to challenge drug policies in the courts of the State. The NFL has maintained its fight against doping is a product of its collective agreement with the players Union and was governed by federal law.
Saints defensive end will Smith and former Saints end Charles Grant controlled, positive to the same substance but were not involved in the pursuit of Minnesota. The NFL had place off to do respect their four-game suspensions until the Minnesota case has been resolved. Grant is currently a free agent.
Kevin Williams is scheduled to make the 6 million dollars in 2011, if the season occurs. Pat Williams is a free agent. His agent, Angelo Wright, said Pat Williams wants to play this season and the decision of the Court does not change.
"We had some interest". Therefore wait us for him to play, "said Wright.
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