Did Ricky Fail another drug test (1 Viewer)

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Ricky Williams tested positive

JASON COLE

2/20/2006

Dolphins running back Ricky Williams again failed a test for drug use under the NFL's substance-abuse policy. The drug Williams tested positive for was not marijuana.

Williams, who has three times prior tested positive for marijuana use, violated the league's substance-abuse policy this offseason for the fourth time when he failed a drug test, two sources said Monday. The substance discovered is not known publicly.

''This whole thing is a little confusing,'' one source said when asked what substance was used. ``I'll just leave it at that. The best way to say it is he violated the program.''

Williams' agent, Leigh Steinberg, did not wish to discuss Williams' situation except in hypothetical terms. ``Assuming that something like this happened, an appeal would have been filed. In the best case, that appeal would probably not have been heard until April, but now that all this information is out it's impossible to know what might happen.

``I would be blown away if Ricky Williams used drugs, and that's how most of the people around him also feel.''

Steinberg said Williams has been in India for approximately two weeks and is not scheduled to return to the United States until early April. He said Williams could have received permission from the NFL to leave the country for a period of time and not be tested under the league's substance-abuse policy.

Williams is in India studying yoga and holistic medicine. This is the second consecutive year Williams has spent at least a month in India studying yoga.

http://www.miami.com

 

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Williams' appeal could take six weeks

By JEFF DARLINGTON

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Monday, February 20, 2006

The appeal process that Dolphins running back Ricky Williams hopes will save him from a one-year suspension for a fourth violation of the NFL's substance-abuse policy already has begun, a source said Monday.

The process, which starts with the NFL Players Association and then goes to the league, is expected to take four to six weeks. The source said the process began before Sunday, when a Denver television station reported that the NFL cited Williams for violating the policy.

While the source would not give details of the appeal, the person said Williams did not test positive for marijuana. But that could not be confirmed with the NFL because of the confidential nature of the testing program.

Another source, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said the latest violation stems from a failed test rather than a missed one. However, the source did not identify the substance.

Williams' mother, Sandy, said Sunday her son is currently in India, and that she has not spoken to him about his latest troubles. She said she feels that she has spent enough time with her son to be confident that he no longer smokes marijuana.

"I'll bet my life he's not smoking marijuana," Sandy Williams said. "He's so particular about what he puts in his body now. I would just be shocked. I just don't believe he's smoking weed.

"I'm thinking maybe it was one of his (legal) supplements for his yoga school."

The Dolphins declined to comment Sunday through team spokesperson Harvey Greene.

"Because of the confidential nature of the league's substance-abuse policy, we can't comment on any aspect of that program," Greene said.

Williams was in stage three of the NFL's substance-abuse program, which included being subjected to up to 10 drug tests a month.

According to the NFL Policy and Program for Substance Abuse 2005, "a player who fails to cooperate with testing, treatment, evaluation ... or who has a positive test, will be banished from the NFL for a minimum period of one calendar year.

"After the completion of the one-year banishment period, the Commissioner, in his sole discretion, will determine if and when the player will be allowed to return to the NFL."

Williams already served a four-game suspension at the start of this past season for his third violation of the policy, which was the result of his one-year retirement from the league.

Williams failed his first drug test in May 2002. The following year, in December 2003, he failed a second drug test for marijuana use, which resulted in a $650,000 fine.

The following July, Williams shocked the Dolphins by retiring from the team.

Williams later openly spoke about his marijuana use, which partially led to his decision to leave football.

Last season, after returning to the Dolphins, Williams served a four-game suspension to start the season. However, once he began playing, he returned to form, finishing the season with 743 yards on 168 carries.

Prior to his retirement, he led the NFL with 1,853 yards in 2002.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/cont.../0220ricky.html