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Kevin Williams Hasn't Heard About Suspension

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) -- Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams said Sunday that he has not heard from the NFL about a possible suspension stemming from a weight loss supplement he took three years ago.

Williams and former teammate Pat Williams had been embroiled in a long court fight over their positive tests for the banned diuretic bumetanide in 2008. They argued that the supplement StarCaps did not include the ingredient on its label.

In April, the Minnesota Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from Pat Williams. That appeared to clear the way for them to be suspended for the first four games of 2011.

"We haven't heard anything. Hopefully they forget about it, but you know how that goes," Kevin Williams said jokingly when he reported to Vikings training camp at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Not likely, but the new collective bargaining agreement may factor into the enforcement of the suspension. The league and the NFLPA are still talking about several facets of the deal, including the drug policy. Williams has vehemently denied taking steroids and has never tested positive for them. But bumetanide is banned because it is a diuretic that can be used as a masking agent for steroids.

If his suspension is upheld, Williams would miss the first four games of the season. It would be a crushing blow to the Vikings defense, which would be without its captain and most dominant front-seven player.

"Whatever happens, happens," Kevin Williams said. "We're prepared either way, or I am. Just going to go with that. Haven't heard back from them.

"Maybe once this CBA thing gets settled completely we'll hear from them, but I'm going to keep moving accordingly until then."

Williams is free to practice and work out with the team until a decision is issued by the league. But the Vikings are taking precautions if they lose their star player.

The Vikings drafted Iowa defensive tackle Christian Ballard in the fourth round in April and also re-signed versatile backup Fred Evans on Sunday to give them a little more depth at the position.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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