Saints DT Hollis Thomas Suspended Four Games For Steroid Violation, By: Matthew Smith

December 6, 2006

New Orleans, LA (AHN) - The Saints have lost Hollis Thomas for the rest of the regular season for violating the league's steroid policy.

Thomas, a 335-pound defensive tackle, believes his asthma medication might have triggered the positive results. The drugs he was using to help fight his breathing problems included Advair, which contains certain steroids.

Thomas is currently working the appeals process with support from the Saints.

John Amoss, the Saints' team doctor and instructor at the LSU Health Science Center, sent a letter to the league in defense of Thomas. Amoss explained that Thomas is required to take Advair twice a day while using an inhaler four times daily.

"Advair contains both the steroid fluticasone and the long acting beta agonist galmeterol," wrote Amoss, according to ESPN.

The league took all information into consideration, but still ruled Thomas was in violation of the policy.

Thomas will be eligible to return to the team Jan. 1, 2007 if the Saints make the playoffs.

The 32-year-old Thomas has 43 tackles and 3.5 sacks in his first year with the Saints. He was traded from the Philadelphia Eagles on draft day.

Thomas' absence will severely affect an already shaky run defense. At 335 pounds, the big defensive lineman was a load for offensive linemen to deal with, and he proved himself to be very effective against the run. The Saints have been giving up 133 yards per game against the run, and with Thomas' big body off of their line, that average is sure to creep up even higher.

New Orleans is currently in first place in the NFC South at 8-4. They are also tied with the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks for the second overall spot in the NFC, which would garner a first-round bye in the playoffs and home field advantage for their second round match-up.