StarCaps Case Finally Going To Trial

The never ending story of StarCaps involving Pat Williams and Kevin Williams of the Minnesota Vikings looks to be nearing a conclusion after 16 months of maneuvering through the legal process.  A quick recap of what this is about:

The Williams’ reportedly tested positive for a banned substance [bumetanide] in 2008. The NFL wanted to suspend them for four games in 2009, but that got delayed when a judge issued an injunction against disciplinary action.

That banned substance was an over the counter weight loss supplement StarCaps which happened to contain bumetanide which is a potent diuretic which can be used as a masking agent for steroids.  Bumetanide was not listed as one of the ingredients and is banned by the NFL.  The original ruling was a standard four game suspension for the Williams' brothers for violating the leagues substance abuse policy, however they were allowed to play by the NFL while waiting for a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals.

The current news is two fold; first Judge Gary Larson ruled in a 44-page report that this case will go to a trial by jury starting March 8th and second is that both Williams's can sue the NFL for allegedly violating state drug-testing laws.  To prove that the NFL violated Minnesota state law then the players must prove that the NFL employs them, however the NFL argues that the Vikings employ the players.  This is important since the NFL administrates the drug testing through the UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory which exceeds Minnesota's Drug Testing in the Workplace Act.

Here is how the NFL responded to the ruling:

"Today’s decision, along with the federal court decisions in this case, properly rejected virtually all of the claims asserted against the NFL’s program on performance-enhancing drugs. It further confirmed that the program is operated with integrity and consistent with best scientific practices. We are confident that we will prevail on the remaining two claims."

The NFL is claiming victory even though the case is going to trial. The result of this trial could also affect New Orleans Saints Will Smith and Charles Grant who also tested positive for their use of StarCaps, but the league did not suspend them since they were awaiting word on the Minnesota Viking case.