It looks like Jamar Nesbit is not alone in his (legal) battle against StarCaps, the manufacturer of weight loss system which allegedly contained the banned diuretic bumetanide.

Grady Jackson, Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle, is also suing the company for getting him a four-game ban from the NFL for violating the league’s policy on anabolic steroids and related substances.

Jackson and Nesbit were among the several NFL athletes who tested positive for bumetanide, a known masking agent.

From the StarCaps.com is this statement: “We’ve received notice of a problem with an NFL player. We have referred the matter to our counsel and are taking all necessary steps to ensure that our customers receive product that is safe and effective. We have temporarily suspended shipping of StarCaps pending the results of our investigation.”

Meanwhile, a study conducted by the Center for Human Toxicology at the University of Utah has detected bumetanide in the StarCaps’ over-the-counter supplement.

The study concludes: “A single StarCaps capsule was administered to two male and two female volunteers, and their urine specimens were collected at discrete intervals (2, 4, 8, and 12 h) post administration. The specimens were analyzed by a high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry quadrupole (HPLC-MS) method, and bumetanide was detected in all specimens (4.6 to 351.3 ng/mL). Adjusting the bumetanide concentrations for creatinine content did little to normalize the excretion profiles. Bumetanide was also detected in the StarCaps capsules at concentrations approaching therapeutic doses. HPLC-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to confirm the presence of bumetanide in the urine samples and StarCaps capsules. The results showed that unregulated dietary supplements may put consumers at risk for unwitting consumption of prescription medications, and that it is possible for athletes to inadvertently test positive for bumetanide and face disciplinary actions.”

Nikki Haskell’s famous line reads: “If I can’t do it in high heels, I’m not interested”.

The question is will she be wearing high heels when she faces possibly multiple lawsuits NFL players might heap on her dainty feet because definitely she should be interested with the suits.

New Orleans Saints’ offensive lineman Jamar Nesbit filed a lawsuit Tuesday in a New Jersey federal district court against StarCaps, a company founded by Haskell.

Nesbit’s camp alleged that the product was ‘improperly stacked with a diuretic’, a compound which is included in the NFL’s list of prohibited substance. Said diuretic is bumetanide prescribed for individuals suffering from edema associated with congestive heart failure, hepatic and renal disease, including the nephrotic syndrome.

According to Nesbit’s lawyer Brian Malloy, the Saints player is seeking $235,000 to recoup his salary lost due his four-game suspension in September when he tested positive for said diuretic. Nesbit has just returned to his team’s active roster late last month from his suspension.

Diuretics are prohibited by most major sports organizations because they are often used to facilitate weight loss via their ability to enhance rapid water loss through urine excretion. They are also utilized as masking agents, i.e. they are used to purposely block or hide the presence of illicit compounds in the system. They do this by rapidly diluting urine by increasing renal flow. The result is lowered levels of the banned substance being excreted from the body.

StarCaps has suspended the sale of its weight loss product which has been alleged to contain bumetanide. Bumetanide is a loop diuretic and is included in the NFL’s list of prohibited compounds.

The company issued this emailed statement: “We’ve received notice of the problem with the NFL. We have referred the matter to our counsels and are taking all necessary steps to ensure that our customers receive product that is safe and effective. We have temporarily suspended shipping pending the result of our investigation.”

The company faces a lawsuit from Saints’ player Jamar Nesbit. Nesbit was slapped with a four-game suspension in September for violating the NFL’s policy on anabolic steroids and related substances. According to reports, the Saints’s offensive lineman tested positive for bumetanide and he blamed the StarCaps product for the positive test.

Nesbit’s attorney, Brian Malloy, said the product was tainted with the said diuretic. Nesbit is seeking $235,000 in lost salary from his suspension and additional damages to compensate for harm done to his reputation and for the alleged intentional, undisclosed spiking of the product with bumetanide.

StarCaps was founded by socialite and diet guru Nikki Haskell. The StarCaps dietary supplement is advertised as an ‘all-natural dietary supplement’ containing ‘a rare blend of papaya and garlic’.

Several players, prominently from the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings, are currently under investigation for testing positive for bumetanide. Among the players are Vikings Pat Williams and Kevin Williams and Saints running back Deuce McAllister and defensive ends Will Smith and Charles Grant.

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.