Arguments Against Suspensions
1. The banned substance, bumetanide, was not present in the list of ingredients on the StarCaps label.2. Because bumetanide is a product that requires a prescription from a doctor to obtain, it was (allegedly) fraudulently and illegally put into the StarCaps formula by the manufacturer without the knowledge of their customers.
3. The NFL knew StarCaps contained bumetanide, yet did nothing to warn the players about it. Dr. John Lombardo, the administrator of the NFL's steroids policy, apparently knew about the presence of bumetanide in StarCaps but never informed the players or the players' union of its presence.
Arguments For Suspensions
1. The NFL's policy on steroids and and other banned substances clearly states that a player and a player alone is responsible for what he puts in his body. Various memos have also been circulated throughout the league strongly reiterating that point.2. The league's policy does not set forth an obligation to issue specific warnings about specific products.
3. The league says it sent warnings about StarCaps in December of 2006 to team presidents, general managers, head athletic trainers and to NFLPA executive Stacy Robinson, whose job it is to oversee the policy for the union.
