Steroids Blog

According to a top league official last Thursday, NFL may give up control over its steroid testing program to an outside agency if it could not run the program effectively in cooperation with the player’s union.

This move would actually signify a great shift on their policy since the league has been running its own testing program for over two decades.

This decision came after the court rulings freeze the suspension of the two Minnesota Viking players. According to the court, a state court’s decision is needed regarding two issues related to Minnesota workplace laws.

The league viewed this move as something that could cause fragmentation of their steroid testing program. Wide-ranging laws could never serve anyone’s interest.

According to Jeff Pash, the league’s counsel and executive vice president of labor, if the program could not be administered by the league in cooperation with the player’s union, then it would be best to transfer its control to an outside agency such as the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA).

He also mentioned that control of the steroid testing program could be placed under the control of a federal agency.

One thing they do not want to do is to stop the program, which has served everyone well.

According to The Washington Post:

The NFL might consider giving control of its steroid-testing program to an outside agency if it determines that it cannot continue to run the program effectively in cooperation with the players’ union, a top league official said Thursday. Such a move would represent a significant shift in policy for a league that has administered its testing policy in conjunction with the union for two decades.