NEW YORK: Six NFL players have been suspended for four games each after taking banned substances which could act as masking agents for steroids, the NFL said on Tuesday.

Charles Grant, Will Smith and Deuce McAllister of New Orleans Bryan Pittman of Houston, and Kevin Williams and Pat Williams of Minnesota have all been suspended for the remaining four regular season games.

"The players specifically violated a long-standing provision of the policy relating to the use of diuretics and water pills, which serve as masking agents for steroids and are potentially dangerous to the health of players," an NFL statement said.