Hollis Thomas Suspended For Violating The League's Drug Policy

[Philly_Crew]

Just look at him.  He probably loses half of it out his nose ring hole.  Anyway, thanks for having your career year once you leave the Eagles.

[SD_Eagle5]

AROUND THE LEAGUE

-- Saints defensive tackle Hollis Thomas, who has been suspended for four games for violating the league's steroids policy, has claimed that the asthma medication he takes led to his positive test for the banned substance clenbuterol. But the league insists a player would not be punished for taking asthma medication. According to NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, the league's testing procedure is sophisticated enough to detect approved asthma medications.

"There's no asthma medication on our banned substance list,'' said Aiello, "unless it's something that has ephedra [a stimulant in some cold medications that is on the league's banned substance list] in it. And players can apply for a special medical exemption. There are numerous players who have been approved for the therapeutic use of something on the banned list like a diuretic or ephedra. We're not discriminating against asthmatics. But there's nothing in asthma medication that would trigger a positive test. If there's something legitimate being taken on the banned list, there are allowances for that. And the medical waiver doesn't have to be requested in advance. It can be given at that point. Hollis Thomas had his appeal, presented his evidence, and the league rejected it.''

[PhillyPhanInDC]

Just look at him.  He probably loses half of it out his nose ring hole.  Anyway, thanks for having your career year once you leave the Eagles.

Probably because he violated the league's drug policy. Everyone seems to be rushing to the guys aid simply because he has asthma. I bet he was roiding it up and figured if he got caught he could blame it on his asthma meds.

[Wingspan]

Just look at him.  He probably loses half of it out his nose ring hole.  Anyway, thanks for having your career year once you leave the Eagles.

Probably because he violated the league's drug policy. Everyone seems to be rushing to the guys aid simply because he has asthma. I bet he was roiding it up and figured if he got caught he could blame it on his asthma meds.

if this led to a suspension of 4 games. doesnt that mean that this would be his second violation?

[PhillyPhanInDC]

Wasn't he caught smoking the ganja when he was in Philly?

[QB Eagles]

There's a story in today's New York Times that makes it pretty clear that Hollis was using performance-enhancing drugs that he didn't need for his asthma. Some excerpts:

A drug test Aug. 7 found clenbuterol, a banned drug that helps burn fat and promotes muscle growth, in Thomas's body.

...

One football official, who was granted anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the case, said the drug found in Thomas's system could not have resulted from a combination of the medications. If the drugs that Thomas was prescribed by the team doctor were the only medications found in his system, he would have won his appeal, the official said.

...

Advair and albuterol, drugs that Thomas was taking for his asthma, are included on the N.F.L.'s list of prohibited substances. But they were not cited as violations because they were prescribed by the team doctor, the official said.

"As long as what is found in the system is what the doctor prescribed you, you are fine," the official said. "But in this case, there was something else besides what the doctor prescribed."

The second football official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, confirmed what the other official said.

Drug-testing experts also questioned the team doctor's written argument. Clenbuterol is not a steroid, but it cannot be obtained legally for human use in the United States. Only veterinarians treating horses with severe breathing problems similar to asthma can prescribe the drug.

"I have never heard the proposition put forth that this combination of drugs would produce a positive test for clenbuterol," said Dr. Gary I. Wadler, an associate professor of medicine at New York University and an adviser for the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Clenbuterol is not more effective at treating asthma than the other medications Thomas was taking for his breathing problems, Wadler said. The drug is available for human consumption in some South American countries and has been used to increase muscle growth in show animals and athletes.

[rjs246]

Ha, and all of you clowns were defending him. Get it straight, these guys are not your friends. They don't need to be defended tooth and nail when its obvious that they are cheating.

If you're 30 and a professional athlete in ridiculously good shape and you have a stroke... it isn't a complicated equation.

[Wingspan]

i now find it funny that hollis thomas was talking horse medication

[methdeez]

Just look at him.  He probably loses half of it out his nose ring hole.  Anyway, thanks for having your career year once you leave the Eagles.

Probably because he violated the league's drug policy. Everyone seems to be rushing to the guys aid simply because he has asthma. I bet he was roiding it up and figured if he got caught he could blame it on his asthma meds.

I'm rushing to his aid becuase he is a jolly fat man, who used to make me crack up.

[MDS]

What utter horseshtein.  A travesty of justice.

bahaha

[ice grillin you]

free hollis!!!

[Geowhizzer]

What utter horseshtein.  A travesty of justice.

bahaha

Eh, whatever.  Round him up and shoot him.

[QB Eagles]

i now find it funny that hollis thomas was talking horse medication

I like how it's used to give "show animals" more muscles.

[MURP]

I just saw Hollis at the water hole.

[ice grillin you]