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NFL players ratify HGH testing, other changes to sport’s drug policies NFL players ratify HGH testing, other changes to sport’s drug policies
(35 minutes later)
NFL player representatives voted Friday to ratify changes to the sport’s drug policies, giving their approval to a variety of modifications that will include players being blood-tested for human growth hormone. NFL player representatives voted Friday to ratify changes to the sport’s drug policies, giving their approval to a variety of modifications that would include players being blood-tested for human growth hormone.
Under the deal, the suspensions of Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon, Denver Broncos wideout Wes Welker and other players are to be reduced, pending the league and players’ union completing the final details of the agreement. Welker is to become eligible to play immediately and Gordon will have to serve nine more games of a 10-game suspension, according to a person familiar with the deliberations. Under the tentative deal, the suspensions of Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon, Denver Broncos wideout Wes Welker and other players are to be reduced, pending the league and the players’ union completing the final details of the agreement. Welker would become eligible to play immediately and Gordon would have to serve nine more games of a 10-game suspension, according to a person familiar with the deliberations.
The go-ahead for HGH testing comes more than three years after the league and the NFL Players Association first agreed to it as part of their 2011 labor deal. HGH already is on the sport’s list of banned performance-enhancing substances but players until now have not been tested for it. The two sides first had to agree to the program’s details before testing could begin, and the testing was kept on hold for three full seasons while the NFL and the union remained at odds over those details. There was one note of caution about the need for the league and union to finalize the agreement on the changes to the drug policies and the reduced suspensions. One person with knowledge of the negotiations said the deal is likely to be completed without further complications. But it remains possible, the person said, that it still could unravel. That person called the entire process “far from over.”
The would-be go-ahead for HGH testing comes more than three years after the league and the NFL Players Association first agreed to it as part of their 2011 labor deal. HGH already is on the sport’s list of banned performance-enhancing substances but players until now have not been tested for it. The two sides first had to agree to the program’s details before testing could begin, and the testing was kept on hold for three full seasons while the NFL and the union remained at odds over those details.
Negotiations between the league and union picked up recently. The two sides met Monday in New York. They did not complete an agreement, but enough progress was made that the union was willing to accept a new proposal Tuesday from the league with tentative plans to put it to a vote that night of the players who serve as NFLPA representatives for their teams.Negotiations between the league and union picked up recently. The two sides met Monday in New York. They did not complete an agreement, but enough progress was made that the union was willing to accept a new proposal Tuesday from the league with tentative plans to put it to a vote that night of the players who serve as NFLPA representatives for their teams.
The player representatives spoke by conference call Tuesday night and postponed the vote, apparently over concerns about the league’s proposal. But after further discussions between the league and union, the players took the vote Friday and ratified the deal.The player representatives spoke by conference call Tuesday night and postponed the vote, apparently over concerns about the league’s proposal. But after further discussions between the league and union, the players took the vote Friday and ratified the deal.
HGH testing will take place during the current 2014 season, according to the union’s announcement. HGH testing would take place during the current 2014 season, according to the union’s announcement.
“We stood up and fought for what was right,” DeMaurice Smith, the union’s executive director, said in a written statement released by the NFLPA. “Twenty-five years ago it was NFL players that set out to make the game clean by asking for and collectively bargaining the first drug testing policy in professional sports. Today, this union and these player leaders have approved a policy that will serve the game well for generations of players to come.”“We stood up and fought for what was right,” DeMaurice Smith, the union’s executive director, said in a written statement released by the NFLPA. “Twenty-five years ago it was NFL players that set out to make the game clean by asking for and collectively bargaining the first drug testing policy in professional sports. Today, this union and these player leaders have approved a policy that will serve the game well for generations of players to come.”
Gordon was to be suspended for the entire season for a violation of the sport’s substance abuse policy. Welker was to be suspended from the first four games for testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance. Under the changes to be implemented, neither would have been suspended. Gordon was to be suspended for the entire season for a violation of the sport’s substance abuse policy. Welker was to be suspended from the first four games for testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance. Under the changes that would be implemented if this deal is completed, neither would have been suspended.
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick also is among the previously suspended players who are to become eligible to play immediately, according to the person familiar with the deliberations. Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick also is among the previously suspended players who would become eligible to play immediately, according to a person familiar with the deliberations.
Other players also are to have their suspensions reduced. The union, without mentioning specific players, announced that discipline “of players for certain violations in the 2014 League Year will have their discipline adjusted by certain aspects of the new policies.” Other players also would have their suspensions reduced. The union, without mentioning specific players, announced that discipline “of players for certain violations in the 2014 League Year will have their discipline adjusted by certain aspects of the new policies.”
The threshold for what constitutes a positive test for marijuana will be raised from 15 nanograms per milliliter to 35 nanograms per milliliter, the union announced. Gordon reportedly tested positive for marijuana. The marijuana level in one of the two urine samples taken from him reportedly was barely above the previous threshold for a positive test, and below that threshold in the other sample. The threshold for what constitutes a positive test for marijuana would be raised from 15 nanograms per milliliter to 35 nanograms per milliliter, the union announced. Gordon reportedly tested positive for marijuana. The marijuana level in one of the two urine samples taken from him reportedly was barely above the previous threshold for a positive test, and below that threshold in the other sample.
Welker reportedly tested positive for amphetamines. Under the changes to be enacted, a first-time positive test for amphetamines during the offseason now is to be covered under the sport’s substance abuse policy and a player in Welker’s circumstances is not subject to a suspension. A positive test for amphetamines previously had fallen under the performance-enhancing drugs policy, and that will continue to be the case during the season. But Gordon’s case was particularly problematic for the negotiators because his positive test reportedly occurred prior to the current league year, and the changes enacted in the drug policies were designed to impact those players with positive tests during this league year and in the future. That perhaps explains why Gordon’s suspension was not overturned entirely.
The deal also toughens the sport’s penalties for driving under the influence. A player convicted of DUI is to be suspended for two games. There will be no mandatory discipline upon a player being arrested for DUI. The league proposed such a provision during the negotiations but the union opposed that measure. Welker reportedly tested positive for amphetamines. Under the pending changes, a first-time positive test for amphetamines during the offseason now is to be covered under the sport’s substance abuse policy and a player in Welker’s circumstances is not subject to a suspension. A positive test for amphetamines previously had fallen under the performance-enhancing drugs policy, and that would continue to be the case during the season.
Players will be able to appeal punishments for drug-related disciplinary measures to a neutral arbitrator rather than to the NFL commissioner or a person appointed by the commissioner. According to the NFLPA’s announcement, the league and union will jointly choose three to five arbitrators to hear such appeals. Players will have the right to challenge the science of HGH testing during appeals, the union said. The deal also is to toughen the sport’s penalties for driving under the influence. A player convicted of DUI is to be suspended for two games. There will be no mandatory discipline upon a player being arrested for DUI prior to the legal process playing out. The league proposed such a provision during the negotiations but the union opposed that measure.
Players are to be able to appeal punishments for drug-related disciplinary measures to a neutral arbitrator rather than to the NFL commissioner or a person appointed by the commissioner. According to the NFLPA’s announcement, the league and union are to jointly choose three to five arbitrators to hear such appeals. Players would have the right to challenge the science of HGH testing during appeals, the union said.
The changes also include a fine of up to $500,000 and other potential disciplinary measures for anyone in the league found guilty of violating the confidentiality of the drug policies.The changes also include a fine of up to $500,000 and other potential disciplinary measures for anyone in the league found guilty of violating the confidentiality of the drug policies.
The vote of the player representatives was said to be unanimous in favor of approval of the changes.The vote of the player representatives was said to be unanimous in favor of approval of the changes.
“This is an historic moment for our Players and our League,” Eric Winston, the veteran offensive lineman who serves as the union’s president, said in a written statement. “We have collectively bargained drug policies that will keep the game clean and safe, but also provide our players with an unprecedented level of fairness and transparency. Players should be proud of their union for standing up for what was best for the game.”“This is an historic moment for our Players and our League,” Eric Winston, the veteran offensive lineman who serves as the union’s president, said in a written statement. “We have collectively bargained drug policies that will keep the game clean and safe, but also provide our players with an unprecedented level of fairness and transparency. Players should be proud of their union for standing up for what was best for the game.”