NFL, players’ union should overhaul steroids policy
Article By mflorio.tsn on 12th May, 2010
The NFL prides itself on continuously looking for ways to improve. The still-unfolding controversy regarding Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing and his positive test for violating the league's policy regarding anabolic steroids and related substances shows that, when it comes to performance-enhancing substances, the league has plenty of room to enhance its own performance.
The ultimate goal -- both for the league and the NFL players' union -- should be to keep Congress from insinuating itself into the process, a prospect that likely would result in stiffer penalties, more stringent requirements, and (most importantly) the loss of control over a key aspect of the business of pro football.
And Congress will only mind its own business (or, more accurately, business more important to the fate of the republic than whether athletes are juicing) if the general public has confidence in the manner in which sports leagues like the NFL are minding their own shop.
Given the lessons learned from the Cushing case, here are five things the NFL and the NFLPA can do in conjunction with the ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations to protect the program from the eventual involvement of Congress.
1. Use different levels of punishment for different types of substances
Currently, the policy enumerates as prohibited substances 58 types of anabolic steroids, five types of hormones, 14 types of anti-estrogenic agents, 26 masking agents and 11 stimulants. Given the stigma that attaches to the use of steroids, why not incorporate a stiffer penalty for such infractions?
Given that players who test positive for one of the many banned substances routinely attempt to claim that they didn't take a steroid, the penalty for taking a steroid should be greater. The use of a heightened sanction beyond the standard four-game suspension for a first offense would make it clear to the media and the fans ...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for NFL
The ultimate goal -- both for the league and the NFL players' union -- should be to keep Congress from insinuating itself into the process, a prospect that likely would result in stiffer penalties, more stringent requirements, and (most importantly) the loss of control over a key aspect of the business of pro football.
And Congress will only mind its own business (or, more accurately, business more important to the fate of the republic than whether athletes are juicing) if the general public has confidence in the manner in which sports leagues like the NFL are minding their own shop.
Given the lessons learned from the Cushing case, here are five things the NFL and the NFLPA can do in conjunction with the ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations to protect the program from the eventual involvement of Congress.
1. Use different levels of punishment for different types of substances
Currently, the policy enumerates as prohibited substances 58 types of anabolic steroids, five types of hormones, 14 types of anti-estrogenic agents, 26 masking agents and 11 stimulants. Given the stigma that attaches to the use of steroids, why not incorporate a stiffer penalty for such infractions?
Given that players who test positive for one of the many banned substances routinely attempt to claim that they didn't take a steroid, the penalty for taking a steroid should be greater. The use of a heightened sanction beyond the standard four-game suspension for a first offense would make it clear to the media and the fans ...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for NFL
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