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Men who sold 'Whizzinator' admit to federal charges

Last update: November 26, 2008 - 11:31 AM

The two people behind the Original Whizzinator, a urine-cleansing gizmo that helped a onetime Minnesota Viking running back and other men cheat on drug tests, have pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in Pittsburgh.

Robert Catalano and George Wills, who owned online-based Puck Technology, entered their pleas Monday for conspiring to defraud the federal agency that administers federal workplace drug testing programs.

The California men are scheduled to be sentenced in February and face up to eight years in prison, a $500,000 fine or both.

In April 2005, the Vikings' Onterrio Smith was caught at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport with a Whizzinator.

The device, which was available in five flesh colors and sold for $150, included a prosthetic penis attached to an undergarment resembling a jock strap. It connected to a pouch containing dehydrated urine. Water was added to the pouch and a heat pack could be attached to keep the urine close to body temperature.

"Black Hawk Down" star Tom Sizemore was similarly busted earlier that same year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482

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