Football: NFL talks to World Anti Doping Agency about drug testing players
There have been ongoing talks between the National Football League and World Anti Doping Agency (WADA). The Agency director general, David Howman said that WADA has been trying to work in concert with the NFL, towards making the NFL’s anti-doping program “as tough as it possibly can be.” Howman said that their talk with the NFL have been “Fruitful”.
NFL officials met with WADA at their headquarters in Montreal last week. This week representatives from NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB gathered for talks with the Drug Enforcement Administration regarding the use of performance enhancing substances. NFL has been trying to crack down on performance enhancing drugs and these meetings appear to be steps in that direction. How well-meaning NFL’s intentions truly are to that end is a subject of a minor debate. There has been friction between NFL and the players association over several contentious doping issues.
NFL players association supported the Willaimses, Pat and Kevin of the Minnesota Vikings, in their run-in with NFL’s doping program. After testing positive for a banned substance the NFL tried to enforce a four-game ban on Pat and Kevin. The ban was first challenged and blocked in a court, but the decision was later overturned in favour of the NFL. The Williamses however have appealed the decision and their suspension has been stayed. The legal run around has prevented the NFL from enforcing the ban for 18 months and counting.
NFL officials have acknowledged the possibility of handing over their steroid testing program to WADA, or federal authorities if the league and the players union cannot cooperate with anti-doping efforts. However, NFL Vice President added that the league would prefer to run its program indigenously. He declined to confirm if the possibility of a WADA or a federal takeover of the drug program was discussed in last week’s talks. Vice President Birch said that they are looking at all possibilities to make sure their doping policy is effective and meaningful. “But our first priority is certainly to come to an agreement with the union".
WADA as an independent organization does not need to deal with players unions. The increased volume of talks between WADA and NFL might stimulate the unions into making concessions towards the anti-doping program, the Human Growth Hormone (HGH) testing issue for example. Players unions have stringently protested using blood tests to screen for these types of hormones. HGH is on NFL’s list of banned substances, but players are not tested for it. HGH cannot be detected through standard urine tests.
Director General Howman has been prevailing upon NFL and the player unions that blood tests are indeed the only way to proceed. “HGH won't be detected in urine in my lifetime and I'm not that old. It's pie in the sky stuff”.
It appears that the league wants to listen, but no changes can come into play if the players unions are not on board. The unions are under increased pressure from all around and have agreed to discuss the issue with the NFL. NFL officials were hopeful and believed that the talks would go smoothly and the unions would agree to the blood tests for HGH.
NFL is also developing what they are calling “biological passport” testing. Still in the early stages of development, in addition to looking directly for traces of banned substances in urine tests, the new program would track changes in different markers in urine. Analysis of these changes could raise flags about possible banned substance use. The program at present is anonymous and cannot yet result in penalties for players identified in this manner.
Director General Howman was optimistic about the progress of anti doping efforts, “The NHL has expressed an interest in working with us. The NBA is working closely with the International Basketball Federation. We've done reasonably well with the PGA Tour and we have been talking with Major League Baseball ... We are not where we were at six years ago”. NFL and WADA officials are expected to meet again in this summer.
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