It was the expected outcome of the doping controversy in the NFL, and yet the suspension of six players merited a ‘breaking news’ spot in various media networks.

On Dec. 2, NFL issued the suspension to running back Deuce McAllister and defensive linemen Charles Grant and Will Smith of New Orleans; defensive linemen Kevin and Pat Williams of Minnesota; and long snapper Bryan Pittman of Houston. All players, except for Pittman, tested positive for bumetanide, a loop diuretic considered to be a masking agent for anabolic steroids. The six players were suspended for four games without pay.

“I definitely was not trying to cheat in any form,” McAllister told The Associated Press in a phone interview. “I tried to do everything the right way.”

Pittman also appealed to his fans. According to an ESPN report, Pittman did not use StarCaps but tested positive for another banned diuretic.

“I want the people and the fans to understand that I was not trying to mask steroids or any banned substances,” Pittman said according to Houston television station KRIV.

“I thought I took the proper procedures and methods by getting a doctor’s authorization to take the diuretic,” Pittman said, according to the station. “The diuretic I took did not dilute any urine specimen, which is what a player does when they are trying to mask something. The NFL toxicologist confirmed there was nothing else in my specimen other than the diuretic.”

Atlanta’s Grady Jackson, the seventh player who also tested for bumetanide, is still awaiting decision. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Jeff Pash, the league’s chief counsel, had asked for additional information on Jackson’s case.

Jackson has filed a case against the maker of the weight-loss system which reportedly contained the banned substance for “false advertising and unfair business practices.” The company did not name the diuretic as one of the ingredients of its over-the-counter supplement.

It is now confirmed that New Orleans Saints’ Deuce McAllister and Houston Texans’ Bryan Pittman are among the several players under investigation for violating the NFL’s policy on anabolic steroids and related substances.

There have been speculations on the identity and the exact number of players who tested positive for the banned compound bumetanide. Several media organizations have reported varying statistics – Fox 31 said it is six to 10 players while ESPN.com said the number may exceed 15. NFL is refusing to divulge any information since the players are still appealing their cases.

Deuce McAllister, however, admitted that he’s one of the ‘several’ players. The Saints’ veteran running back talked with the media after his team’s victory over San Diego in London on Sunday.

“We’ve been kind of going through this process for a while,” McAllister said. “I guess you guys just found out about it at this point. But whatever happens, that’s what’s going to happen. We’ve hired counsel. He’s going to do his job to kind of put the case together and however the NFL rules, that’s the way it will be.”

Lawyer David Cornwell, who has served as assistant general counsel to NFL, is representing several of the players involved. Cornwell, however, has only identified one of his clients Bryan Pittman, long snapper for the Houston Texans.

“Bryan did everything humanly possible to comply with the NFL steroid policy, including obtaining doctors’ written authorization to take weight loss medication. He did not use steroids,” Cornwell said Monday in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

“Thus far, the only violation of the NFL steroid policy is the breach of Bryan’s absolute right to confidentiality while his appeal proceeds. Whoever is leaking this story is attempting to put their thumb on the scale (of) justice to harm Bryan.”

Other players who have been named in several media reports include McAllister’s fellow Saints’ player Will Smith as well as Viking’s Kevin Williams and Pat Williams.

Bumetanide is a loop diuretic often used as a masking agent by users of anabolic steroids and other banned compounds.

Bumetanide is now the buzz word in the National Football League.

According to Fox 31 television channel in Denver, there are six to 10 positive tests of Bumetanide among NFL’s rosters. Another news organization, ESPN.com, provided a bigger number “more than 10 and may exceed 15” it said in its report. Only two athletes have been named so far, and they are New Orleans Saints’ Deuce McAllister and Will Smith.

The sports organization is yet to release official statement on the issue. Similarly, David Cornwell, who has been hired by several of the involved parties, refused to divulge the identity of his clients or the actual number of the athletes involved. Cornwell, however, aired his views regarding how the information was reported by the media.

“These men are entitled to confidentiality and entitled to go through an appeal process, so the (Fox 31) report … is completely unfair,” Cornwell said. “The cornerstone of any workplace testing program, especially one in professional sports with high-profile people, is confidentiality.

“The recent reports about pending appeals by players who are alleged to have used weight loss supplements reflect the most egregious violation of the NFL steroids policy. The foundation of the policy is both a player’s right to appeal and an absolute right to confidentiality. By leaking this story, the ’source’ is clearly attempting to put their thumb on the scale of justice and harm these men.”

Bumetanide is loop diuretic, which means it acts on the ascending loop of Henle in the kidney. Loop diuretics are mainly used to treat hypertension and edema caused by congestive heart or renal insufficiency. Diuretics, such as Bumetanide, are often used as masking agents by some athletes. Masking agents are drugs or compounds that are taken purposely to ‘mask’ or hide steroids and other prohibited substances. This is the reason why diuretics are also tested for in doping controls. So this means that the NFL players who tested positive for Bumetanide have a whole lotta explaining to do.