National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
The NFL announced today the suspension without pay for four games of six players that violated the NFL Policy on Anabolic Steroids and Related Substances. The players specifically violated a longstanding provision of the policy relating to the use of diuretics and water pills, which serve as masking agents for steroids and are potentially dangerous to the health of players.
The policy states that the use of so-called “blocking” or “masking” agents, including diuretics and water pills, is prohibited and that a positive test will not be excused because it results from the use of a …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
It appears as many as 10-15 NFL players have tested positive under the league’s steroid policy as a result of taking water pills to lose weight. Water pills. Big deal? Well, the water pills — aka Bumetanide — can also serve as a masking agent for other drugs or steroids. Thus the violation of the steroid policy if you test positive for it.
Bumetanide is a drug belonging to a group of medicines called loop diuretics or “water pills.” Its uses include the treatment of fluid retention and swelling caused by medical conditions such as …read more