National Football League

Judge: Williamses, NFL to pay own court costs in doping case

Published Jun. 9, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The NFL and two Vikings players will pay their own court costs in a case involving drug suspensions.

U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson says Wednesday it's inappropriate for one side to pay the costs of another because "neither party can fairly be said to have prevailed'' in federal court.

The ruling reverses an April judgment that ordered Kevin Williams and Pat Williams to pay more than $7,500 to cover the NFL's court costs.

The Williamses sued the NFL in state court after they tested positive for a banned diuretic in 2008. The case was moved to federal court, where some of the claims were dismissed, while the rest were sent back to state court.

The Williamses suspensions are on hold while the state case is being appealed.