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NFL Improves Steroid Program

by David Kindervater on January 24th, 2007

In an attempt to stay on top of the professional sports world’s issues with performance-enhancing drugs, the National Football League and NFL Players Association today reached an agreement on a series of improvements to their policy and program on anabolic steroids and related substances. The NFL already had a stringent policy in-place, but it just got better. The modifications include a 40% increase in the number of players randomly tested each week during the preseason, regular season and post-season from seven to 10 per team. Last year, the number of random off-season tests was increased from a maximum of two per player to six per player. These changes bring the total number of steroid tests conducted annually by the NFL to 12,000. Other changes in the program include:

  • The additional use of carbon isotope ratio testing on a random basis to detect low doses of testosterone. All specimens now will be subject to random selection for CIR testing. Previously, CIR testing was only used to confirm positive tests for testosterone.
  • The addition of erythropoietin (EPO) to the banned substance list. Testing for EPO will begin with the 2007 annual test that is administered in the spring or summer.
  • A minimum $500,000 NFL grant to the UCLA Olympic testing laboratory and other researchers for the development of new testing methods for HGH. In addition, a working group will be established to study the issues related to deterring the use of human growth hormone (HGH).
  • Enhancement of the unpredictability of the year-round testing schedule to address the perception of gaps in the testing periods.
  • A new feature of the Collective Bargaining Agreement that provides for automatic forfeiture of a prorated portion of a player’s signing bonus if he is suspended for violating the steroid or substance abuse policy.

This latest “upgrade” only further legitimizes the NFL’s commitment to keeping the league clean. Commissioner Goodell noted that the improvements would not end here. As they have done in the past, the NFL and NFLPA will review and modify the policy on an ongoing basis.

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