Lane Johnson Files Charges Against NFL and NFLPA

[RG33]

Lane Johnson of the Eagles has filed charges with the National Labor Board and the Department of Labor against the NFL and NFLPA as a result of his 10-game suspension for using performance enhancing substances (2nd offense).

Ultimately, it looks like his claim is that his "rights, protections, and due process" that are guaranteed in the CBA were violated. His claim is that he bought an amino acid on the internet, used the NFLPA-provided App used to check on the viability of substance (it was deemed okay), and then tested positive and was suspended.

Do the legal folks here think this has any legs to cause problems for the NFL and/or NFLPA?

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18117246/lane-johnson-philadelphia-eagles-files-complaint-national-labor-relations-board-suspension

 

[LondonSox]

I wonder if he has more potential with the union given their pointless app, and unwillingness to stand by anything.

The guy apparently played by the rules, was careful, and unless he tested it himself couldn't have done much more.

He had some of the sample left and provided it, so if an approved supplement was tested and found tainted I get his reaction. And we all know his appeal was a joke.

I think this is about as extreme a case as possible to test the system, and it was the same result as the worst case. I doubt anything happens, as all Pats fans and saints fans etc know.

And of course don't even get me started on the whole 10 games vs domestic abuse etc

 

[Marciano490]

Does anything ever happen to these supplement companies? They seem to be highly regulated already and the FDA got ephedra, andro and a million other basic things off the market. For all the times people have blamed the otc supps, I don't recall there ever being a crackdown.

 

[Oppo]

Supplements are highly unregulated. The companies are responsible to ensure their products are safe, that claims are not false, etc and do not require FDA approval prior to marketing/sale. The FDA doesn't really get involved until there are false claims, complaints or an significant incident. That's why many companies hire independent groups (USP, GMP, etc) to inspect and show they use good manufacturing procedures, products contain what they claim, free of contaminants, etc.

 

[Oppo]

As long as the supplement clearly states it's not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease AND there isn't evidence that is causes harm, the supplement will be left alone by the FDA.

 

[leftfieldlegacy]

Does anything ever happen to these supplement companies? They seem to be highly regulated already and the FDA got ephedra, andro and a million other basic things off the market. For all the times people have blamed the otc supps, I don't recall there ever being a crackdown.

The NFL and the FDA are working different sides of the PED street. It doesn't necessarily follow that the FDA would investigate the manufacturer just because the NFL banned the product. The FDA's primary concern would be removing substances that it deemed to be harmful. I'm not sure they care at all about a substance's effectiveness as a PE.

Or what Oppo said