THANK YOU LEN PASTABELLY!!!!!!

[The_Phinatic]

Who eats poppy seed before a drug test?  Everyone has heard the rumor about what it can do.  The fact is it takes a crapload of poppy seed to cause this false positive problem anyway.

If it's a legal drug that caused a false positive then why does it take 4-6 weeks to settle an appeal?  I'm not buying Berry's story just yet.

Here is the list from the NFL Players Association of non-illicit drug banned substances.  It could be any of these and Ricky has access to this information like everyone else.  I wonder which one it is??  Of course I am assuming it isn't an illicit drug he tested positive for.


List of Prohibited Substances

The following substances and methods are prohibited by the National Football League: *

I. ANABOLIC AGENTS

A. ANABOLIC/ANDROGENIC STEROIDS: Generic Name Brand Name (Examples)
Androstenediol Androstederm
Androstenedione Androstan, Androtex
Bolasterone Myagen
Boldenone Equipoise, Parenabol
Clostebol Turinabol, Steranabol
Danazol Cyclomen, Danatrol
Dehydrochlormethyltestosteron e Oral-Turinabol
Dehydroepiandrosterone DHEA
Dihydrotestosterone DHT, Stanolone
Dromostanolone Drolban
Ethylestrenol Maxibolin, Orabolin
Fluoxymesterone Halotestin
Formebulone Esiclene, Hubernol
Furazabol Miotolon
Gestrinone Tridomose
17-Hydroxypregnenedione -
17-Hydroxyprogesterone -
Mesterolone Proviron
Methandienone Danabol, Dianabol
Methandriol Androdiol
Methandrostenolone Dianabol
Methenolone Primobolan
Methyltestosterone Metandren
Mibolerone Testorex
19-Norandrostenediol 19-Diol
19-Norandrostenedione 19 Nora Force
Norethandrolone Nilevar
19-Nortestosterone (Nandrolone) Deca-Durabolin
Oxymesterone Oranabol
Oxymetholone Anadrol
Progesterone
Stanozolol Stromba, Winstrol
Testosterone Andronate
Trenbolone Finaject

And related substances

B. HUMAN OR ANIMAL GROWTH HORMONE

C. BETA-2-AGONISTS (CLENBUTEROL, ETC.)

D. HUMAN CHORIONIC GONADATROPIN


II. MASKING AGENTS

A. DIURETICS

Generic Name Brand Name (Examples)
Acetazolamide Amilco
Amiloride Midamor
Bendroflumethiazide Aprinox
Benzthiazide Aquatag
Bumetanide Burine
Chlorothiazide Diuril
Cyclothiazide Anhydron
Ethacrynic Acid Edecrin
Furosemide Lasix
Hydrochlorothiazide Aprozide
Hydroflumethiazide Leodrine
Methyclothiazide Aquatensen
Metolazone Zaroxolyn
Polythiazide Renese
Probenecid Benemid
Quinethazone Hydromox
Spironolactone Aldactone
Triamterene Jatropur, Dytac
Trichlormethiazide Anatran

And related substances

B. EPITESTOSTERONE

C. PROBENECID


III. CERTAIN STIMULANTS

Generic Name Brand Name (Examples)
Ephedrine Ma Huan, Chi Powder
Methylephedrine -
Pseudophedrine * Sudafed, Actifed
Fenfluramine Phen-Fen, Redux
Norfenfluramine -
Phentermine Fastin, Adipex, Ionamin
Modafinil
Synephrine Bitter Orange, Citrus Aurantium

* Except as properly prescribed by Club medical personnel

IV. DOPING METHODS

Ingestion or injection of banned substances, or of supplements or other products containing banned substances. Pharmacological, chemical or physical manipulation by, for example, catheterization, urine substitution, tampering, or inhibition of renal excretion by, for example, probenecid and related compounds.

[Dave Gray]

Even if the situation could've been avoided (like Ricky paying closer attention to the chemicals in dietary supplements, etc), the NFL doesn't want to suspend one of their star players for a YEAR on a technicality.  If it was a first offense, or a slap on the wrist, where there was no REAL PENALTY, fine.

The NFL wants Ricky to play.  He is good for his team, he puts fans in the seats, and he gets people to tune in on Sunday.  If he wasn't DOING DRUGS, I think that it's in the NFL's best interest to further look into the situation, and a possible re-test.

[Dphins4me]

If it's a legal drug that caused a false positive then why does it take 4-6 weeks to settle an appeal?  I'm not buying Berry's story just yet.

From what I've heard RW may not be back in the US for a month or so.

Appeals take time for both sides to gather info & find out what is going on.

[Phishfan]

Who eats poppy seed before a drug test?  Everyone has heard the rumor about what it can do.  The fact is it takes a crapload of poppy seed to cause this false positive problem anyway.

If you pay attention to a lot of my posts you will see I play Devil's advocate a lot. I notice in these boards once one opinion is put out there everyone jumps on it without ever stepping back to think about another viable option. I really don't believe it was poppy seeds, but was throwing it out there as a way for a false positive. As we all know, the NFL is not going to give you very much advanced warning on the test, so the excuse of who would eat them before a test is not valid. Also it doesn't take a crapload either. 2-3 bagels can cause the positive.

[JVides]

Also it doesn't take a crapload either. 2-3 bagels can cause the positive

Yeah, I saw that episode of Myth Busters too.  Surprising to see how few poppy seeds can cause a false positive.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

Who eats poppy seed before a drug test?  Everyone has heard the rumor about what it can do.  The fact is it takes a crapload of poppy seed to cause this false positive problem anyway.

Not true.  I've heard that sometimes as little as two whole bagels can cause a positive test. 

If it's a legal drug that caused a false positive then why does it take 4-6 weeks to settle an appeal?  I'm not buying Berry's story just yet.

It takes this long for both sides to gather information.  The fact that he did drugs before does not make this automatically an "open and shut" case, but I'm sure this whole thing will be settled beforehand. 

If it was a supplement that caused the positive test, he should not be penalized.... bar none.

[Brian Fein]

Everyone said the same thing the first time he failed a drug test.  "Oh it was a supplement, he was dehydrated, blah blah blah..."

Lest ye forget...

Come to find out, he really did fail the test cause of marijuana, and took off to parts unknown "to save himself the embarrassment.

I stood up for the guy the first time.  I thought, hey, maybe he was really dehydrated.  This time, I'm raising the BS flag.  This guy is nothing but excuses to save face in front of the media until he develops that "I don't give a crap" attitude he exhibited on 60 minutes.

How many slaps do you have to get in your collective faces before you quit cutting the guy so much slack?

[run_to_win]

run_to_win, I have to assume jtex is talking about the "new" RW. The old Ricky was clearly one of the very best in the league.

Last season RW was still among the top backs in the league.  He was significantly more explosive than Brown.  His problems are all mental. 

In a way RW reminds me of a less extreme version of Ryan Leaf.  Physically, Ryan Leaf was better than Drew Bledsoe across the board - significantly better in some aspects.   Yet, Bledsoe has played in 188 regular season games and is still going.  Leaf was done after 26.

[Phishfan]

Everyone said the same thing the first time he failed a drug test.  "Oh it was a supplement, he was dehydrated, blah blah blah..."

Lest ye forget...

Come to find out, he really did fail the test cause of marijuana, and took off to parts unknown "to save himself the embarrassment.

I stood up for the guy the first time.  I thought, hey, maybe he was really dehydrated.  This time, I'm raising the BS flag.  This guy is nothing but excuses to save face in front of the media until he develops that "I don't give a crap" attitude he exhibited on 60 minutes.

How many slaps do you have to get in your collective faces before you quit cutting the guy so much slack?

I'm not standing up. This is a Devil's advocate thing. I personally believe it was a dietary supplement of some sort.

[fyo]

Last season RW was still among the top backs in the league.  He was significantly more explosive than Brown.  His problems are all mental.

I disagree. I do think he played better than Ronnie, overall, but not well enough to be among the top backs. Larry Johnson, Shaun Alexander, Edgerran James, Rudi Johnson, Tiki Barber and LaDamian Tomlinson were all way out of Ricky's league in 2005.

I'm not saying Ricky wouldn't be able to get back to that elite level - after all, he was AWOL for a year and that's gotta hurt somewhat and he did have fewer weak games in the second half of the season, so the promise of more is there. Or was there, I guess, unless he somehow avoids get a 12 month suspension.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

The fact remains:  If Williams tested positive for something that was in one of his yoga supplements (which are legal), he should just discontinue taking that supplement. 

If the supplement itself has no banned substances but in itself caused a false positive test, then he didn't test positive.

Either way, he's off the hook.

[Brian Fein]

he's not off the hook...

If he tested positive for steroids, for example, and admits to taking "supplements", guess what, boys n girls, he's suspended.

Knowing him, and how people were saying how much weight he lost and how small he was, I wouldn't be surprised if Ricky was on the juice.  That'd make sense too, why they're keeping it hush, so congress doesn't get involved

[KYfinfan]

Last season RW was still among the top backs in the league.  He was significantly more explosive than Brown.  His problems are all mental. 

In a way RW reminds me of a less extreme version of Ryan Leaf.  Physically, Ryan Leaf was better than Drew Bledsoe across the board - significantly better in some aspects.   Yet, Bledsoe has played in 188 regular season games and is still going.  Leaf was done after 26.

I thought it was obvious that Ricky showed he an elite RB by the end of the season.  Afer a year off of not playing/practicing did anyone really think his first few games were going to be anything to brag about.  He didn't play well when he first took the field.....I think the OL was the biggest problem then.  You can't just look at the yards & TDs, compare them to the league leaders and then say there's no comparison.

What I find strange is that people would doubt his ability less if he was coming off a season ending injury in 2004.  This guy was at his peak at 26-27 and took a year off, stayed healthy, rested, and healed his body.  Now all the sudden he's not that good?  I don't buy it.