NFL drug testing could see big change

**Prince** · 05-25-2011, 01:10 PM

NFL drug testing could see big change
Alex Marvez

Alex Marvez is a Senior NFL Writer for FOXSports.com. He has covered the NFL for the past 16 seasons as a beat writer and is the former president of the Pro Football Writers of America.

Barring an agreement to extend the way NFL drug testing is currently conducted, the league’s anti-doping program could be undergoing significant changes.

NFL senior vice president Adolpho Birch confirmed Tuesday the league is considering an outside company to conduct testing. As first reported by The New York Times, one of those potential firms is the World Anti-Doping Agency that handles drug testing for the Olympic games.

The NFL had run its own testing program through a deal with the NFL Players Association in the previous collective bargaining agreement. But the relationship between the two sides in this area had become strained long before the CBA expired in mid-March and a work stoppage began.

Player lawsuits were filed in recent years that challenged testing accuracy and the punishment for a positive test. One of those cases involved positive tests for three defensive linemen (Minnesota’s Kevin and Pat Williams and New Orleans’ Will Smith) from the banned use of the supplement Starcaps.

The lawsuit bounced around the legal system for years until finally being settled this spring. All three players now face four-game suspensions to open the 2011 campaign.

As first reported by FOXSports.com, the NFL also is insistent that human growth hormone testing become part of a new CBA. NFLPA officials haven’t taken a definitive stand on the matter, but late executive director Gene Upshaw vehemently opposed testing because it required the drawing of blood.

“One thing we’ve said is that our system we thought was a good system,” said Birch, who oversees the NFL’s drug-testing program. “Up until recently, we had full support, participation and input on the part of the players. In the absence of that, we have to look for ways to administer our policy in a way that keeps it as effective as we think it has been to date. I think from a procedural standpoint, we need to look at those (outside) options.

“(WADA) would be one option. We’re going to see what it means for us to advance the idea that the NFL still and remains the leader in this area.”

Players are not being drug tested during the lockout, but Birch said that would resume immediately after the work stoppage ends. The NFL conducts about 26,000 random drug tests a year (14,000 for performance-enhancing drugs; 12,000 for recreational drugs). Roughly 6,000 are usually administered during the offseason.

The NFL still wants to conduct drug testing even if teams are forced to lift the lockout by court order and resume football operations without a CBA in place. That’s where the use of an outside testing agency may not only be necessary but a harbinger of things to come once a CBA is reached.

Birch admits there could be changes in the protocol involving player drug testing if an agency like WADA became involved.

“We want an effective program that deters those who wish to cheat and eliminate the threat of steroids from our game,” Birch said. “Under any (outside) system we would consider, those would be the objectives.

“I doubt (WADA) would suggest we increase the number of tests. The number we do now I think is probably the most significant of any organization there is. But certainly WADA would have ideas about what they think is the way to operate. We would have to look at that and make determinations about the best way to go forward.”

**Warlord!** · 05-25-2011, 01:15 PM

I doubt any system will totally eliminate some type of enhancements from sports.
Not that fans really give a damn when it comes to football which is king in the U.S.

**AmanBig** · 06-20-2011, 11:09 AM

It aint what it use to be

**Adonis** · 06-20-2011, 11:49 AM

Football isn't Baseball, so most don't really are care about the drug use or cheating.

**irish_2003** · 06-20-2011, 12:04 PM

PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT IS NOT CHEATING!!!

those who DON'T use are CHEATING!!!

**Adonis** · 06-20-2011, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by irish_2003

PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT IS NOT CHEATING!!!

those who DON'T use are CHEATING!!!

Using chemicals to enhance what are suppose to be natural abilities is cheating.
Its common sense. But I'm guessing you were joking.

**irish_2003** · 06-20-2011, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by Adonis

Using chemicals to enhance what are suppose to be natural abilities is cheating.
Its common sense.

really? so any food from the grocery store has chemicals that have contributed to people being bigger, faster, stronger.....so we shouldn't eat anything if we compete?......your statement sounds like you never made the Varsity team and always got "participation trophies" in youth sports

**Adonis** · 06-20-2011, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by irish_2003

really? so any food from the grocery store has chemicals that have contributed to people being bigger, faster, stronger.....so we shouldn't eat anything if we compete?......your statement sounds like you never made the Varsity team and always got "participation trophies" in youth sports

I'm an elite athlete and food are drugs are not the same, what planet do you live on where that mindset is acceptable?

**irish_2003** · 06-20-2011, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by Adonis

I'm an elite athlete and food are drugs are not the same, what planet do you live on where that mindset is acceptable?

I'm a winner, not a whiner!!!.....that's the difference!!!

**Adonis** · 06-20-2011, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by irish_2003

I'm a winner, not a whiner!!!.....that's the difference!!!

Originally Posted by irish_2003

PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT IS NOT CHEATING!!!

those who DON'T use are CHEATING!!!

I get it, so this doesn't count as whining on your planet. Gotcha.

**mario_ps2** · 07-07-2011, 06:19 PM

No.. they won't taper with the dope testing because the NFL is a multi-million dollar business.

No big steroid guys... = boring football.

**MDR** · 07-07-2011, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by mario_ps2

No.. they won't taper with the dope testing because the NFL is a multi-million dollar business.

No big steroid guys... = boring football.

More like a billion dollar business. Boring football? So I guess during the 70's and 80's football was boring? There will always be "cheating" in sports. These guys want to win and be the best, period.

**njc** · 07-17-2011, 09:24 PM

Whats with the double standard when it comes to AAS between football and baseball. Why should it be more accepted in football? Makes no sense

**KelJu** · 07-17-2011, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by njc

Whats with the double standard when it comes to AAS between football and baseball. Why should it be more accepted in football? Makes no sense

Because baseball fans are twice as annoying as football fans.

**irish_2003** · 07-17-2011, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by njc

Whats with the double standard when it comes to AAS between football and baseball. Why should it be more accepted in football? Makes no sense

Brent Musberger said it best in his speech to i think Wyoming State University?

basically because football is a contact sport and the need for recovery is so much greater.....

**KelJu** · 07-17-2011, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by Adonis

I'm an elite athlete and food are drugs are not the same, what planet do you live on where that mindset is acceptable?

Appeal to higher authority much? Using steroids is cheating. It is cheating, because it is forbidden to use steroids in baseball and football. The problem isn't that athletes are cheating. The problem is that steroids shouldn't be against the rules in the first place. They also shouldn't be illegal.

People use the argument that steroids change what a person is naturally capable of. Well, what is natural? Eating 10,000 calories a day isn't natural. Supplementing your diet with over the counter vitamins, and supplements isn't natural. Our training methods aren't even remotely natural. There has never been a human being existing in nature that ever had to do shoulder presses in 3 sets of 10 for 5 minutes to survive. There is nothing about the modern day athlete that is natural. What is a person naturally capable of? Each person's capabilities are different. We aren't stock cars. There are too many variables to consider when talking about unlocking the human potential. To single our just one variable makes no sense. The only reason it is singled out is because people like to form opinions without knowing shit about what they are talking.

Some people say that steroids are dangerous, and athletes shouldn't be forced to use them just to compete. Well, that is horseshit, too. Sports are dangerous, period. Many of those banned substances can help in the recovery of injuries, while others can help to prevent injuries outright. Again, it boils down to people forming opinions about subjects they are not educated about spouting off bullshit on the news that adds to the misinformation giving steroids a bad name.

**kt0473** · 07-19-2011, 07:36 AM

I don't think football players will ever stop using performance enhancers, if it was up to the nfl I don't think they would change a thing if they weren't being pressured.

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