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NFL Strengthens Steroid Policy
NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue will testify today about the league's steroid measures at a hearing on Capitol Hill.
(By Chris Trotman -- Getty Images)
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Vincent called the Panthers case "a concern," and added: "It's out there. It's always going to be out there, as long as you have athletes who are looking for an edge. There's so much at stake now financially. . . . When [the report about the Panthers players] happened, it came out at the peak of the baseball stuff. It made our league look like we might have a problem, too. But we've had a system in place for many, many years . . . and it works."
Other players say much the same thing. "I think we have one of the most aggressive testing programs of any sport," Kansas City Chiefs veteran guard Will Shields said. "I don't think we have a rampant problem."
Said former Minnesota Vikings running back Robert Smith: "It's probably not much more widespread than the people you see getting caught. I think if more people were doing it, you'd see more people getting caught. It's not that easy to hide. Not only do you have testing, but you have cases like this one in Carolina where the doctor gets caught and it comes out that way."
Gary Wadler, an associate professor of clinical medicine at the New York University School of Medicine, said he would like to see the NFL turn its program over to the World Anti-Doping Agency, of which he is a member.
"I do believe in the sincerity of the NFL drug program," said Wadler, who is scheduled to testify today. "Their program has been the best in the professional sports leagues. But they don't do blood testing. At the end of the day, it's getting to be of such complexity that leagues should take the lead of the Olympics and get out of the testing business themselves."
Browne said the league has no plan to divorce itself from the testing process. The league pays to have its 9,000 annual steroid tests conducted at a WADA-approved laboratory at UCLA.
"Our NFL substance-abuse program, which is collectively bargained and has widespread acceptance by our NFL players, has been hailed by WADA medical consultants as the 'gold standard' for other sports," Browne said.
Today's witness list includes Steve Courson, a former NFL lineman who has said that his steroid use contributed to a heart condition. Two high school coaches, Willie Stewart of Anacostia High in the District, and Bobby Barnes of Buckeye Union (Ariz.) High, who suspended 10 players from his team two years ago after learning they had taken steroids, also will testify.
