Post by EagleGene on Jun 13, 2005 13:28:44 GMT -5
NFL suspends Vikings RB Smith for 2005 season
June 7, 2005
NEW YORK (Ticker) - Minnesota Vikings running back Onterrio Smith, who was detained at an airport on April 21 for being caught with a device that is designed to beat drug tests, has been suspended for the entire 2005 season.
The NFL announced the suspension on Tuesday, confirming that Smith violated the league's substance abuse policy.
The move was expected after the NFL instructed the Vikings to excuse Smith from their offseason program last month.
Smith was stopped at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport after his bag set off a screening device. A search found several vials of dried urine and "The Original Whizzinator," which is a $150 kit used to help individuals pass drug tests.
With two strikes against him under the league's substance abuse policy, Smith was subject to a one-year ban with another violation.
Smith rushed for 544 yards last season and was expected to battle for a starting spot with Michael Bennett and Mewelde Moore.
Expected to be either a first or second-round draft pick in 2003, Smith slipped into the fourth round because of character questions. He was kicked out of the University of Tennessee in 2000 due to off-the-field problems and finished his college career at Oregon.
June 7, 2005
NEW YORK (Ticker) - Minnesota Vikings running back Onterrio Smith, who was detained at an airport on April 21 for being caught with a device that is designed to beat drug tests, has been suspended for the entire 2005 season.
The NFL announced the suspension on Tuesday, confirming that Smith violated the league's substance abuse policy.
The move was expected after the NFL instructed the Vikings to excuse Smith from their offseason program last month.
Smith was stopped at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport after his bag set off a screening device. A search found several vials of dried urine and "The Original Whizzinator," which is a $150 kit used to help individuals pass drug tests.
With two strikes against him under the league's substance abuse policy, Smith was subject to a one-year ban with another violation.
Smith rushed for 544 yards last season and was expected to battle for a starting spot with Michael Bennett and Mewelde Moore.
Expected to be either a first or second-round draft pick in 2003, Smith slipped into the fourth round because of character questions. He was kicked out of the University of Tennessee in 2000 due to off-the-field problems and finished his college career at Oregon.
