N.F.L. and Union Reiterate Relevance of Drug Policy

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/sports/football/23nfl.html

By JUDY BATTISTA
Published: September 22, 2009

N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell and DeMaurice Smith, the chief executive of the players union, have sent a joint memo to players emphasizing that the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs is still in place. The memo, which also reaffirms their support of the policy, comes in the wake of court decisions that blocked the N.F.L. from enforcing the suspension of two Minnesota Vikings for positive drug tests.

“It is important for all players to understand that the Policy on Anabolic Steroids and Related Substances remains in place and that you will be tested this year just as you have been in other years, and a positive test will generally result in a suspension,” the memo said.

Last week, the N.F.L suggested that its ability to run the program with the union might be jeopardized by the court decisions and that it might have to turn over drug testing to an outside agency. The league was angry that the union remained silent while the players challenged in court the league’s right to administer its policy.

The N.F.L. had argued in court that the collectively bargained policy should take precedence over state law. The players union said it believed that the N.F.L. had not sufficiently warned players about StarCaps, a weight-loss supplement that resulted in the positive tests for the Vikings players.

The joint memo could indicate that the two sides have found some common ground, which is important right now; they have a negotiating session for a new labor deal next week.

Other NFL stories at link.