You're Bumetanide-ing Me Out, Man...

In a story first reported by Josina Anderson of KDVR-TV/Fox 31 in Denver, upwards of 10 active NFL players have tested positive for a banned substance- three of them have been linked to the New Orleans Saints franchise... Deuce McAllister, Charles Grant, and Will Smith.

This release of information could not have come out at a worse time for The Shield with the Saints set to play San Diego in London Sunday. Chris Mortensen has added the name of Houston Texans' long-snapper Bryan Pittman to the list. Pittman has hired an attorney, David Cornwell, to represent him.

The illegal substance, bumetanide, is a weight-loss diuretic ((translation- water pill)) and has also been suspected to be a masking agent for steroids in an individual's system.

If the test is in fact positive, it may result in a four-game suspension for the three Saints players- the standard suspension length for a first-time violation.

Saints lineman Jamar Nesbit has just returned from a four-game suspension of his own. The drug linked to Nesbit was bumetanide, and it is unknown whether or not Nesbit's name is on the list released to the Denver television station for their story.

Teddy Kider from the New Orleans Times-Picayune got in touch with Dr. Don Catlin, president and CEO of Anti-Doping Research, Incorporated. Catlin explained what bumetanide can do in a person's system...

"Part of the reason (Bumetanides) are on the list of banned substances is that they create a lot of water excretion, lots of prewater, lots of urine, and that can lower the concentration of a drug, "Catlin said. "And, of course, we are always trying to find drugs in urine. If you have diluted urine, we are going to have more difficulty finding the drugs."

Catlin added: "That's one of the two reasons why it's on the list. The other reason is to make weight in sports such as boxing and wrestling, where athletes have to come in under a certain weight to stay in their category."

Initial coverage from ABC26 in New Orleans is below...


One final note that those of us at OSG HQ find somewhat amusing...
Cornwell issued another statement calling on the league to revoke Josina Anderson's "credentials and access to NFL games and other league events until she discloses her source."

We are amused by the paper trail of this paper tiger...