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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes (L) keeps both feet in the end zone as he beats Arizona Cardinals safety Aaron Francisco to catch the game winning touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, February 1, 2009. Credit: REUTERS/Brian Snyder

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Six players suspended for taking banned substances

NEW YORK
Tue Dec 2, 2008 6:35pm EST
New Orleans Saints' running back Deuce McAllister (L) is tackled by San Diego Chargers linebackers Stephen Cooper and Tim Dobbins (51) during the fourth quarter in their NFL game at Wembley Stadium in London October 26, 2008. REUTERS/ Dylan Martinez

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Six NFL players have been suspended for four games each after taking banned substances which could act as masking agents for steroids, the NFL said on Tuesday.

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Charles Grant, Will Smith and Deuce McAllister of New Orleans, Bryan Pittman of Houston and Kevin Williams and Pat Williams of Minnesota have been suspended for the remaining four regular season games.

"The players specifically violated a long-standing 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," an NFL statement said.

The NFL statement referred to a weight loss product called Star Caps and the league said it had warned teams in 2006 that the product had been added to the list of prohibited dietary supplement companies.

The suspensions are a particular blow for the Minnesota Vikings who lead the NFC North. Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, who are not related, are the heart of the team's defense as starting defensive tackles.

The league said that should a team reach the playoffs the players would be available again from December 29, allowing them to take part in post-season games.

The suspended players will go without pay for the duration of their bans.

(Reporting by Simon Evans in Miami; Editing by Ed Osmond)
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