Is this really fair? (Saint's Thomas suspended for 'roids)

[NYCSkin]

Originally Posted by BDBohnzie

For argument's sake, what if Thomas just happened to use the Advair right before his drug test. Would it be possible that with it being fresh in his system, that it could trigger a false positive in the test?

If the NFL was testing for these types of steroids, I believe that only oral asthma steroids would register in a blood test, not Advair or similar inhaled steroids.

[BDBohnzie]

So, it sounds like there are underlying things going on, and both Hollis Thomas and the Saints medical staff are using his asthma to cover up.

[NYCSkin]

Originally Posted by ArtMonkDrillz

NYCSkin, would you say that the doctor probably stood up for Thomas because he also works for the saints?

Probably, but he surely must know his rationale is incorrect. The Saints could be using this for some damage control. Most of these team docs are orthopedic guys but they should still know basic immunology and asthma. If I were the team doc, I would have argued that he took an oral steroid for his asthma and attack the test for having some crossreactivity to these class of steroids. Still farfetched in my mind, but a bit more of a credible argument.

[onlydarksets]

I'm so confused now, but I'm going to trust NYCSkin over John Clayton. Thanks for clarifying!

[firstdown]

The league has a policy that others have been suspended for even though it was incidental. The doctors, player, team, should have consulted the NFL before they started him on these drugs that they knew had a ban substance. The doctor Amoss also used the word "possibility" which is not 100% and also leaves the door open to other causes for a positive test.

[BleedBurgundy]

I heard on Fox Sports Radio the other day that it wasn't the steroids portion of the policy for which he was suspended but the supplement portion. I don't know if he was taking some banned substance or if the asthma meds caused a positive test for some banned supplement... I believe this was originally reported by Jay Glazer.

[The Zimmermans]

If it really was athsma medicine, that is absolutely rediculous. I don't think people even want to know the level of steroid usage in this league, I know I don't. There are hundreds of guys using new and innovative steroid substances that are untestable, and then the league suspends a reputable player for athsma medication........WOW. I think it's a move by the NFL to tell the media that "they are really cracking down on steroids", which is an untrue statement. I know the testing is strict, but companies such as BALCO have always had the money and resources to beat it.

[MTK]

The NFL takes a pretty hardcore stance on their drug policy and I tend to agree with it. I'm not commenting on this incident specifically, but overall athletes need to be responsible for what is going into their bodies. This crap about "I didn't know what was in that" just doesn't fly. Man up and be responsible for your actions on and off the field.

[Defensewins]

There must be something else that is not in this story, like there is another medication that works for these symptoms that does not have a banned steriod? Maybe? I am guessing.
Then again the NFL is really slow to correct rules that have obvious problems. They do not like to admit when they are wrong. Like this crazy roughing the passer rule. It goes too far and it is wrong. However it will take a long time to correct even though most people hate it except the QB's, GM's and certain coaches. I think the teams that have been F-ed by this unfair rule now want it gone.

This steriod exception rule might fall in the same catagory, hard to change due to politics involved.

[NYCSkin]

Originally Posted by JWsleep

NYC Skin--nice post--good to have some actual knowledge on the board...(not that everyone else isn't just FILLED with knowledge )

Question (don't answer if you are worried about liability--seriously): Are there documented long-term risks with Advair? It works great on controlling my asthma, but I am not so happy about putting any sort of steroid in my body for long periods of time. Thanks, and like I said--don't answer if it's a problem. (Am I hijacking this thread?)

I'll send you a PM...

[SmootSmack]

Well, I guess we mods should all let you know that Daseal isn't really leaving the site voluntarily.

We had to suspend him for four games for violating our substance abuse policy. He was "robotripping"

[mike340]

Haven't we heard many times about contaminated supplements causing a positive drug test (in various sports.) Yet with all these occurrences I can't recall a single instance where a supplement was named, either at the time of the positive test or later. My feeling is that this is a way athletes have found to convert themselves from cheaters to victims. Is there any reason that anyone has heard why none of the "offending" supplements has ever (to the best of my knowledge) been named? (I am running with BleedBurgundy's post above.)

[STPainmaker]

The steroid component of this story is completely irrelevant. It's the Beta agonist portion of the Advair thats the issue. A Beta agonist stimulates Beta receptors which is also how ephedra works and this is why he got suspended. Ephedra and other "stimulants" are banned substances by the NFL. This has been an issue in track and field as well with guys taking ritalin/adderal for "ADD". These medications provide hyperacuity, and an overall wired feeling. Very similar to the cocaine induced sack attacks of Dexter Manley and LT.

Link

[STPainmaker]

The issue of cross reactivity NYCSkin brought up is definitely an issue but with respect to the stimulant part of advair and the short acting albuterol inhaler thomas took.
There is a definite known cross reactivity in certain test kits between Clenbuterol which they tested for and is considered a drug of abuse and the medication he takes as a rescue medicine for asthma albuterol.

This in my opinion means that either Mr. Thomas needs to get better medical/legal representation or the NFL further confirmed with a more specific test he actually was taking Clenbuterol. I feel it is most likely the former.

[railcon56]

LOL when I 1st saw the "roids" I thought they suspended him for having ....HEMMORIODS... I was gonna say..Hell YES thats fair.... LOL but kinda shitty