The U.S. Supreme Court refused, without comment, this month to dismiss a lawsuit brought by two NFL players against the National Football League, which means the dispute will continue in state courts.
According to CNN, the two Minnesota Vikings players, Pat Williams and Kevin Williams (who are not related), tested positive on a league-issued drug test for a banned diuretic, which can be used to cover-up anabolic steroids in a person’s system. The players were banned from playing in four games. The players brought the lawsuit against the NFL because they believe the league violated state labor laws in the way the league suspended them.
The NFL has argued that the National Labor Relations Act protects its right to apply its drug policy without being challenged in the courtroom. The NFL has asked Congress to officially protect the league from being challenged in state court’s by suspended players. Other sports leagues have also filed “friend of the court” briefs to back-up the NFL’s application of its drug policy.
According to CNN, the Minnesota Court of Appeals will soon decide whether to make permanent the temporary injunction on the player’s suspension.
Source:
Supreme Court stays out of NFL drug violation dispute (CNN)