Viking Kevin Williams takes the stand in NFL case
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Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Kevin Williams testified Tuesday in Hennepin County District Court that the NFL did not notify him in a timely manner about a drug test and did not keep the results private.
Williams and teammate Pat Williams, who are not related, are suing the NFL after the league suspended them in 2008 for violating the league's banned substance policy.
Kevin Williams says he's never taken steroids, but in 2008 he took a dietary supplement called StarCaps to help him shed a few pounds.
The supplement is a diuretic which helps reduce water weight but is also banned by the NFL because it can mask steroids. Williams says he didn't know StarCaps contained a banned substance called bumetanide.
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The head of the league's drug testing program, Dr. John Lombardo, notified Williams in August of 2008 that he'd tested positive for bumetanide. In September, Williams received a letter from the league telling him he'd failed a follow up test and was suspended for four games. Then in late October news of the drug test results were broadcast by a TV network sports reporter.
In court, Williams said, "I didn't think anyone was supposed to find out about that until it was resolved."
Williams had planned to appeal the decision to the league later and hadn't spoken to his family about it. And he says he was upset to hear his name mentioned along with the terms banned substance and steroid program. NFL lawyers say the league had nothing to do with the leak.
Williams said he has several incentives to stay at his playing weight of 310 lbs. Not the least of which is a provision in his contract which rewards him for meeting his weight target. Williams says being lighter helps reduce strain one of his knees that was surgically repaired in 2006. And he says his coaches like to see him stay at playing weight.
"{Defensive line} Coach {Karl} Dunbar gives you that sad face, if you're overweight," said Williams.
The NFL's drug program administrator Dr. John Lombardo testified that the league has warned players not to take supplements that contain diuretics. He says many of these products contain banned substances. And even though the league didn't tell players that Star Caps contains bumetanide, league policy states that NFL players are responsible for what they put in their bodies.
Kevin Williams' lawyers pointed out that the lineman wasn't notified of his test result until weeks after the test and they say that violates Minnesota employment laws which contain a three-day notification clause. But lawyers for the NFL have tried to argue that the Vikings, not the NFL, employ the players.
Williams attorney, Peter Ginsberg says the league employs the Williams and is bound by state law.
"I think the facts are clear, that the NFL fits within the category of employers as defined by the Minnesota legislature," said Ginsberg.
NFL lawyers declined to talk about the case and NFL spokesman Greg Aiello also declined to comment. However, Aiello has said in news reports that the lawsuit could undermine all anti-doping policies in sports.
Other professional sports leagues like Major League Baseball, the NBA and the NHL are supporting the NFL position. Some legal experts say if the Williams' suit succeeds it could make it harder for the leagues to enforce their drug policies.
The trial is expected to continue in Hennepin County court through the week.
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