Saint's Thomas Out 4 Weeks Due to Steroids (clen)

NBC News reports New Orlean's Saint DT Hollis Thomas faces a 4 week suspension due to violation of the league's substance policy.

NEW ORLEANS - Saints defensive tackle Hollis Thomas was suspended for the final four games of the regular season Tuesday for violating the league’s steroid policy.

Thomas, backed by the team, appealed the suspension, which he said was caused by using asthma medication. He uses an inhaler daily and it apparently contained a banned steroid.

Unusual statements about the steroid inhaler.  I need to review the NFL policy, however the steroids in an inhaler are cortical steroids, like prednisone.  Generic names include beclomethasone, budesonide or fluticasone.  These steroids should not metabolize to an anabolic steroid.  Nor should they increase the T:E ratio.

The usual drugs to treat asthma (EIA, Exercised Induced asthma) include beta-agonists (like turbutaline, and salbutamol), cortico-steroids, leukatrines and a couple other drugs.  Inhaled steroids are NFL allowed for the treatment of EIA.  Systemic steroids are not.  Link here.  Banned NFL drug list here.

Athletes and physicians should be aware of the policy.  Something isn't right here.  (I have an email off to an expert asking this question)
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UPDATE:  I see Thomas was caught with Clenbuterol, a favored drug of bodybuilders for some time now.  Clen is a beta-agonist/antagonist that could be used in treating asthma;  however it has been on everyone's banned list for years now.

Clen is used by bodybuilders for cutting.  Thomas is a big (har humph) man.  It would not surprise me that he was using Clen to control weight.

Clen is also supposed to pack on lean body mass (muscle) perhaps thru HGH or another mechanism.

A man Thomas' size might be playing with fire in taking Clen.  Clen may have cardiac side effects (hypertrophy).  As in the case with Kory Stringer, that's not a good thing.

Clen is not FDA approved.  BUSTED.

Also see here, here, and here, the reports on the Steelers premature morbidity.  Big men die young.
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Comment #2.  This irritates us.  The NBC news release quoted above says 'steroid inhaler'.  Then today the news releases says clenbuterol, which is not a steroid.

I suppose the information was unclear at the time.

 

 

Comments

[trl]

I don't think that the punishment matches the "crime". If the team doctor knew that thomas has astma then he should have percribed thomas a different medicine. The amount that thomas was taking is a normal dosage NOT overdosing. you can't just develope astma overnite. If the league knew that thomas had astma then they should have never picked him up!!!

[GRG51]

I am reviewing the information that has been public, and especially at ESPN: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2687451

Points:
1. The story is all mixed up. According to that story, Hollis was suspended for 2 steroids in an inhaler.

2. This doesn't add up. The article names a steroid, which is used for effect against inflammation.

3. The article also names a beta agonist (beta-andrenergic receptro agonist).

4. Neither of those drugs would give a positive test; both would be allowed if prescribed by his doctor.

(The ESPN article get very tongue-tied and mistakes facts).

5. According to NOLA, http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-2/1165387743164820.xml&coll=1

homas was positive for clenbuterol, a notorious body building drug. Although it is a beta-agonist, it seem to have anabolic properties.

6. Further, the drug is illegal. Not only is it on the banned list of substances, it is illegal in the country. NOLA says it was prescribed. That has to be wrong.

I will keep looking, but essentially Thomas tested positive for a banned illegal drug.

[Anonymous]

Clen has been used for years to increase speed.

[Anonymous]

Clen has been used for years to increase speed.

[Anonymous]

Clen has been used for years to increase speed.