Players testing issue lingers on as NFLPA's boss DeMaurice Smith faces scrutiny – NFL News
The issue of implementation of testing methods of players in the National Football League (NFL), the premier American football league and consequent punishment of players who violate the policy has lingered on as the executive
director of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) faces new wave of scrutiny over the issue.
NFLPA boss DeMaurice Smith faces scrutiny due to player punishments which were likely to handed out to them for abusing the policy against substance abuse in the lockout this offseason.
According to the information available online as many as ten players were on the verge of receiving fines for violating the policy while another player who had previously abused the policy would receive both fine and suspension.
One of the player representative said while talking to the press, “I told De that this was a concern of a number of players after the lockout ended and he said, ‘I got you covered.” I went back and told the players, ‘Look, whatever
it is you’ve been doing, you need to stop and be ready, but that we would probably have a 30-day grace period before the league started testing.”
The controversy has come up following the NFL commissioner criticism about the slow process towards implementation of HGH testing in the NFL.
The commissioner of National Football League (NFL) Roger Goodell has expressed his disappointment over the delay and slow process towards implementation of HGH in the NFL.
However, despite his apparent displeasure and criticism he has hoped that system will be in place for the current season.
The deadlock in the implementation of the testing was removed with an agreement reached in July this year between the NFL and NFL Players Association (NFLPA).
Under the agreement, the NFLPA was supposed to clear all the procedural issues and approve the process and methods of it. However, the Union is reportedly to approve the procedures as yet.
Goodell while stressing the need for early approval of the procedures rejected the suggestion that if there was need for Congress to intervene. He said both the organizations have agreed to it and now he hoped that both of them
will live up to their commitments.
Meanwhile a day earlier, NFLPA had proposed to conduct a study of all the players in the league.
The Union has backed implementation of the proposed plan to know exact level of HGH level in the players, saying that the natural level of HGH in the players might be greater than the general population in the US. However, the
Union has balked at testing methods that have been proposed and approved by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The NFL, however, had recommended the WADA procedures.
The proposal has recommended provision of independent doctors, scientists and arbitrators at all levels to ensure that the game of football was free of men who use drugs to enhance their games.
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