updated 1:36 p.m. ET Feb. 17, 2007

DANBURY, Conn. - Two assistant coaches in a youth athletic group have been arrested on felony child endangerment charges alleging they gave two young football players diuretic pills and had them and other boys participate in dangerous exercises to lose weight.

Hugh Joshua Weyer, 22, and Christopher Murphy, 24, assistant coaches of the Danbury Athletic Youth Organization’s Trojan Football team, were dismissed after a parent complained. They turned themselves in to police on Friday and were released on written promises to appear in court on Feb. 28.

Twelve boys, aged 7 to 13, were “subjected to a rigorous training program” on Sept. 2, with five of them taking part in a 24-hour training session, police said.

None of the children was hurt, but one lost 9 pounds in a day, police said.

“It is a dangerous way to lose weight, especially for children,” said police Detective Gary Guertin.

The two coaches “acknowledged it was a mistake,” Guertin said.

Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images The Week in Sports Pictures The nation grieved for those hurt, killed and affected by the Boston Marathon bombings. After one of the suspects was caught on Friday — following a day-long lockdown and manhunt — sports returned to Boston over the weekend.

Weyer and Murphy, both of Danbury, were each charged with one count of risk of injury to a minor, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

There was no response Saturday to calls seeking comment from Weyer and Murphy.

Pudgie Delohery, president of the Danbury Athletic Youth Organization, said in a statement it was an “unfortunate, isolated incident.”

More news

Clive Mason / Getty Images

Can anyone stop Serena?

Tennis.com: Serena Williams enters the French Open with the rest of the draw fading fast in her rearview mirror.  Can anyone stand in her way?

Kenzo Tribouillard / AFP/Getty Images

Tennis.com: Is French still Nadal's to lose?

Arguably underseeded at No. 4 after his injury layoff, Rafael Nadal still heads into the French Open as the man to beat.

Getty Images

Posnanski: When does great become the greatest?

Posnanski: LeBron James and Tiger Woods are part of a group of active athletes who are bidding to become the greatest in their sport who ever lived.

Headlines

• Label

  The Hype: Best NFL candidates for the WWE

Japanese climber, 80, oldest atop Everest

  Carillo: Looks like Rafa-Novak final at French

Andy Murray out of French Open due to back injury

Expert panel to study UCI-Armstrong 'collusion'

Swim coach sentenced to 7 years for sex abuse

CBT: Bond between coaches crosses rivalry lines

Sports world keeps eye on Oklahoma tornado