Two NFL Players Suspeneded

As the season approaches, the NFL has announced the suspensions of two unsigned free agents Thursday.  NFL spokesman Randall Liu confirmed that LenDale White and Hollis Thomas have both been suspended.

LenDale White Suspension

This announcement wasn't a shock to anyone. It was reported, when LenDaleWhite was released by the Seahawks in May, that he was facing a 4 game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. White, who is training in Colorado and hoping for another team to call, admits that he smoked pot prior to the positive test. He contends that the positive test has nothing to do with his release from the Seahawks.

Hollis Thomas Suspension

Hollis Thomas is now facing his second suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing substance policy in his 14 year career. The NFL suspended the free agent for the first 8 games of the upcoming season for the second violation. Thomas was suspended for the last 4 games of the 2006 season for testing positive for steroids. Thomas blamed that positive test on asthma medication. There is no reports if he is sticking to that same story this time.

Santana Moss HGH

A day after reports that Dr. Anthony Galea was charged with several crimes including smuggling human growth hormone by federal prosecutors, it is now reported who the NFL player was that Dr. Galea's assistant was traveling to see in September.

Santana Moss Injury

While crossing the Peace Brigde into Buffalo, Mary Anne Catalano was arrested in September. At the time of her arrest, she stated that she was on her way to a treat a player in Washington DC. The Buffalo News reported today that the player that was to be treated with HGH was Washington Redskin wide receiver Santana Moss.

Santana Moss Charges or Suspension

According to the newspaper, U.S. Attorney in Buffalo, William J. Hochul Jr, said it is unlikely that any atheletes that were treated by the doctor would face charges.

Hochul said, "At this juncture, any of the persons who are alleged to have used these substances are considered witnesses, and not targets."

But the NFL might not be so forgiving. The Rodney Harrison case set precedent on this matter in 2007. Harrison was suspended for four games after it was found that he admitted to law enforcement official that he used HGH. In that case, NFL security officials were provided access to information by law enforcement. Greg Aiello cited this case when answering question about the current investigation and revelations of possible use by Sanatan Moss.

NFL HGH Testing

The other day Canadian doctor, Anthony Galea, was charged with smuggling human growth hormone (HGH), making false statements for federal officials, conspiracy and unlawfully distributing HGH within the U.S. His clients include Alex Rodriguez, Tiger Woods and unnamed NFL players.

NFL HGH Patients

The lawsuit by the federal government states that Dr. Galea gave three NFL players HGH. Sources close to the case state that he helped treat players with injuries and not to give them a competitive edge. The NFL released a statement saying, "This is an ongoing federal investigation and we have not been informed of the identity of these players." The statement continues to say, "When we have had evidence of illegal purchase, possession, or use of HGH, we have imposed discipline and are fully prepared to do so again if the facts support it."

HGH Testing

There is a test for HGH and the NFL would like to administer it along with the other drug screening; however, the player's union will not accept the terms of the test because it is a blood test. The union's stance is that because the test requires drawing blood that it is too invasive.

Houston Texans' Brian Cushing Suspended

The AP Defensive Player of the Year, Brian Cushing, has been suspended for violating NFL's Steroid Policy and will miss the first four games in the upcoming season. Now the AP is looking to take their award away from him.

Brian Cushing Steriods

There has been rumors following Cushing for years. Even in college he had been questioned about possible performance enhancing drug use, which he always denied. Even with the suspensions, Cushing is still denying that he has ever used steroids. Even though he was suspended for violating the steroid policy, he didn't test positive for steroids. He tested positive for another banned substance. This could be a masking agent or another PED on the banned list. Regardless, it now looks to many that the only reason he has never tested positive for steroid is because he hasn't been caught with them in his system. Wonder if he was taking female hormones like Manny Ramirez.

AP Defensive Rookie of the Year

For the first time, the AP is allowing its voters to recast their votes with the new revelations of Cushing's positive test, which actually happened in September during the 2009 season. In the past decade, three AP Defensive Rookie of the Year winners have been suspended for testing positive for PEDs. Along with Cushing, Shawne Merrimam and Julius Peppers, both big stars, have also been suspended.

One questions I have. Why do you not hear as much uproar when an NFL player is busted for PEDs as you do when a baseball player does. I guess since the NFL is the league that made steroids common, people just accept it. If the stars of the league are taking these drugs, I wonder what the other players are doing to keep up?