Thomas suspended

ATX_SAINT · 12-05-2006, 03:42 PM

FOXSports.com has learned that the NFL has suspended Saints defensive tackle Hollis Thomas for four weeks for violating the league's policy on anabolic steroids and supplements. It's believed that Thomas did not test positive for a steroid, but rather something that was supplement-related for weight loss and/or energy. Thomas will miss the next four games after his appeal was denied this week. As a result, Thomas will not be available to return until the postseason

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6241644

papz · 12-05-2006, 03:47 PM

BIG BIG LOSS. Rodney Leslie, Whitehead, and Cooper all need to step up their game.

Bise · 12-05-2006, 03:47 PM

That is bad bad bad for the Saints. HT was a fireplug.... okay Payton, now what?

jcoll16 · 12-05-2006, 04:07 PM

IMO, Hollis has been co-MVP of the D-line w/ W. Smith. Yikes, but Payton has shown the ability to provide schemes that allow 2nd and 3rd stringers to play well. Time to do it again, Payton & staff.

xan · 12-05-2006, 04:33 PM

How does the NFL suspend a player for taking a legitimate prescription drug that he filed (supposedly) with the league and was under doctor's supervision for a life threatening condition? I'm more than just a little confused and I think that the fix is already in. Let us have some hope, but kill us on a technicality. At this late point in the season, one can only conclude that no one in the league offices wants this team to actually either make the playoffs or host a game.

SaintPauly · 12-05-2006, 04:43 PM

Why is there no appeal? Unless Peyton believes it to be better, to go ahead and get the suspension out of the way now. Four games means, back in the line up, for the first game of the play offs. This might turn out to be a good thing.

xan · 12-05-2006, 04:47 PM

and the next violation for this "offense" - taking a legitimate therapy for barely controled asthma - will be a one year suspension. I fully support drug testing and enforcement of rules to prevent players from getting a boost from non-prescription drug use. I don't agree with the blanket policy that lumps legitimate use with criminals.

TheDeuce · 12-05-2006, 05:27 PM

Yeah this is bullcrap. If this is a legitimate drug for a disease that could be life-threatening, why are they suspending him? There's something fishy about this whole situation...

Either that or the people working for the league office are a bunch of retards

ssmitty · 12-05-2006, 06:12 PM

apparently, his inhaler contained a banned steriod product or whatever....
why was'nt this spotted before, though?

Updated:2006-12-05 16:48:35
Saints' Thomas Suspended Four Games
Defensive Tackle Violated League's Steroid Policy
AP Sports
NEW ORLEANS (Dec. 5) - Saints defensive tackle Hollis Thomas was suspended for the final four games of the regular season Tuesday for violating the league's steroid policy.
Thomas, backed by the team, appealed the suspension, which he said was caused by using asthma medication. He uses an inhaler daily and it apparently contained a banned steroid.

Thomas signed this year with New Orleans after playing nine seasons with the Eagles ; he missed the 2002 season in Philadelphia with a broken right foot. He's had 43 tackles and four sacks for the Saints and has been an integral part of their 8-4 record, which leads the NFC South.

If New Orleans makes the playoffs, Thomas would be eligible to play. He can be added to the active roster on Jan. 1, 2007, the day after the regular season ends.

hagan714 · 12-05-2006, 06:34 PM

Thomas' asthma medicine causes drug policy violationBy John Clayton
ESPN.com

The Saints suffered a big blow to their defense Tuesday when they found out defensive tackle Hollis Thomas, who is having a career year, is being suspended for four games because he violated the league's steroid policy due to asthma medication he takes.

Thomas has been challenging the positive steroid test and had the support of the Saints. Thomas is a 335-pound defensive tackle who has struggled to keep his weight down and doesn't have the body that normally would be linked to steroids.

During his appeal, John Amoss, who is the Saints' team trainer and an assistant professor at the LSU Health Science Center, sent a letter to the league in support of Thomas. Amoss said Thomas has severe asthma problems and requires a high dose of inhaled steroids to breathe. According to the doctor, Thomas needs a long acting beta agonist and a short acting beta agonist to control his asthma.

During his August drug test, the defensive tackle was taking an asthma product called Advair twice a day while also using an inhaler four times a day.

"Advair contains both the steroid fluticasone and the long acting beta agonist galmeterol," wrote Amoss, who thought the possibility of a false positive might have happened.

After taking the information under consideration, the league ruled Thomas was in violation of the policy and he will be lost to the team for the remainder of the regular season.

If New Orleans makes the playoffs, Thomas would be eligible to play. He can be added to the active roster on Jan. 1, 2007, the day after the regular season ends.

Senior writer John Clayton covers the NFL for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2687451

Now this is were the policy fails. medical is medical.

12-05-2006, 03:42 PM	#1
ATX_SAINT Registered Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 49	Thomas suspended FOXSports.com has learned that the NFL has suspended Saints defensive tackle Hollis Thomas for four weeks for violating the league's policy on anabolic steroids and supplements. It's believed that Thomas did not test positive for a steroid, but rather something that was supplement-related for weight loss and/or energy. Thomas will miss the next four games after his appeal was denied this week. As a result, Thomas will not be available to return until the postseason http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6241644

12-05-2006, 03:47 PM	#2
papz Problem? Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Orleans Posts: 11,744	RE: Thomas suspended BIG BIG LOSS. Rodney Leslie, Whitehead, and Cooper all need to step up their game.

12-05-2006, 03:47 PM	#3
Bise 100th Post Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 154	RE: Thomas suspended That is bad bad bad for the Saints. HT was a fireplug.... okay Payton, now what?
Bise 100th Post Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 154

12-05-2006, 05:27 PM	#8
TheDeuce 1000 Posts + Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,928	Yeah this is bullcrap. If this is a legitimate drug for a disease that could be life-threatening, why are they suspending him? There's something fishy about this whole situation... Either that or the people working for the league office are a bunch of retards
TheDeuce 1000 Posts + Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,928

12-05-2006, 06:12 PM	#9
ssmitty 1000 Posts + Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,879	apparently, his inhaler contained a banned steriod product or whatever.... why was'nt this spotted before, though? Updated:2006-12-05 16:48:35 Saints' Thomas Suspended Four Games Defensive Tackle Violated League's Steroid Policy AP Sports NEW ORLEANS (Dec. 5) - Saints defensive tackle Hollis Thomas was suspended for the final four games of the regular season Tuesday for violating the league's steroid policy. Thomas, backed by the team, appealed the suspension, which he said was caused by using asthma medication. He uses an inhaler daily and it apparently contained a banned steroid. Thomas signed this year with New Orleans after playing nine seasons with the Eagles ; he missed the 2002 season in Philadelphia with a broken right foot. He's had 43 tackles and four sacks for the Saints and has been an integral part of their 8-4 record, which leads the NFC South. If New Orleans makes the playoffs, Thomas would be eligible to play. He can be added to the active roster on Jan. 1, 2007, the day after the regular season ends.
ssmitty 1000 Posts + Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,879

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12-05-2006, 04:07 PM	#4
jcoll16 Registered Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: B. Rouge Posts: 39	IMO, Hollis has been co-MVP of the D-line w/ W. Smith. Yikes, but Payton has shown the ability to provide schemes that allow 2nd and 3rd stringers to play well. Time to do it again, Payton & staff.

12-05-2006, 04:33 PM	#5
xan Professor Crab and Site Donor 2014 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Princeton Posts: 3,369 Blog Entries: 34	How does the NFL suspend a player for taking a legitimate prescription drug that he filed (supposedly) with the league and was under doctor's supervision for a life threatening condition? I'm more than just a little confused and I think that the fix is already in. Let us have some hope, but kill us on a technicality. At this late point in the season, one can only conclude that no one in the league offices wants this team to actually either make the playoffs or host a game.

12-05-2006, 04:43 PM	#6
SaintPauly Senior Citizen Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Gulfport, MS Posts: 3,180 Blog Entries: 1	Why is there no appeal? Unless Peyton believes it to be better, to go ahead and get the suspension out of the way now. Four games means, back in the line up, for the first game of the play offs. This might turn out to be a good thing.

12-05-2006, 04:47 PM	#7
xan Professor Crab and Site Donor 2014 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Princeton Posts: 3,369 Blog Entries: 34	and the next violation for this "offense" - taking a legitimate therapy for barely controled asthma - will be a one year suspension. I fully support drug testing and enforcement of rules to prevent players from getting a boost from non-prescription drug use. I don't agree with the blanket policy that lumps legitimate use with criminals.

12-05-2006, 06:34 PM	#10
hagan714 LB Mentallity Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 15,870 Blog Entries: 68	Thomas' asthma medicine causes drug policy violationBy John Clayton ESPN.com The Saints suffered a big blow to their defense Tuesday when they found out defensive tackle Hollis Thomas, who is having a career year, is being suspended for four games because he violated the league's steroid policy due to asthma medication he takes. Thomas has been challenging the positive steroid test and had the support of the Saints. Thomas is a 335-pound defensive tackle who has struggled to keep his weight down and doesn't have the body that normally would be linked to steroids. During his appeal, John Amoss, who is the Saints' team trainer and an assistant professor at the LSU Health Science Center, sent a letter to the league in support of Thomas. Amoss said Thomas has severe asthma problems and requires a high dose of inhaled steroids to breathe. According to the doctor, Thomas needs a long acting beta agonist and a short acting beta agonist to control his asthma. During his August drug test, the defensive tackle was taking an asthma product called Advair twice a day while also using an inhaler four times a day. "Advair contains both the steroid fluticasone and the long acting beta agonist galmeterol," wrote Amoss, who thought the possibility of a false positive might have happened. After taking the information under consideration, the league ruled Thomas was in violation of the policy and he will be lost to the team for the remainder of the regular season. If New Orleans makes the playoffs, Thomas would be eligible to play. He can be added to the active roster on Jan. 1, 2007, the day after the regular season ends. Senior writer John Clayton covers the NFL for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2687451 Now this is were the policy fails. medical is medical.
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