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NFL players union sues to block suspensions

Two Vikings, three Saints were suspended for violating anti-doping policy

Image: Williamses
Minnesota Vikings defensive tackles Kevin Williams (93) and Pat Williams (94) were among six NFL players suspended for four games each for violating the league's anti-doping policy.
Jim Mone / AP
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updated 2:45 p.m. ET Dec. 5, 2008

MINNEAPOLIS - A federal judge in St. Paul is hearing arguments whether five players suspended under the NFL’s anti-doping policy should be reinstated.

Kevin Williams and Pat Williams of the Minnesota Vikings and Charles Grant, Deuce McAllister and Will Smith of the New Orleans Saints are hoping to have their four-game suspensions lifted. They tested positive for a banned diuretic in a dietary supplement called StarCaps.

Players union attorney Jeff Kessler argued Friday that the NFL didn’t properly inform the players about the substance. The union has claimed a league doctor withheld specific information about the diuretic.

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NFL attorney Dan Nash argued that claim — and others — have already been heard and rejected under an arbitration process in the league’s collective bargaining agreement.

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