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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMMISSIONER UPDATES
CLUBS, PLAYERS NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue issued a memo to NFL clubs today, updating them on the status of player testing and discipline for the use of the prohibited steroid THG. Commissioner Tagliabue directed the clubs to provide copies of the memo to all players and coaches. The Commissioner also sent a copy to NFL Players Association Executive Director Gene Upshaw. Following are key excerpts from the memo: “We have thoroughly reviewed with Harold Henderson and Gene Upshaw the status of their discussions about the policies and procedures for testing and discipline for any use of the steroid THG (tetrahydrogestrinone) by NFL players. “This review confirms that the league was advised in late September that THG could be reliably detected under existing NFL test protocols. Following week 5 of the regular season (October 5-6), random tests began for THG as a substance banned by the NFL Policy on Anabolic Steroids and Related Substances. Since then, tests for THG have been completed on more than 1,000 samples obtained from players on all 32 teams. None of these tests has detected any use of THG by any NFL player. These random tests will continue every week, with the same number of players randomly tested on every team each week and more than 200 player samples tested league-wide each week. “If any player tests positive in the course of this ongoing weekly testing, discipline – including suspension for four games -- will be imposed in accord with our policy, and regular reasonable-cause testing will be required of any player testing positive (up to 24 reasonable-cause tests may be required per year). “Any player testing positive for THG based upon samples provided before October 6 will be subject to discipline and reasonable-cause testing. However, players will not be suspended from playing any games during the remainder of the 2003 season for any pre-October 6 positive test. I have concluded that this is appropriate for a number of reasons related specifically to THG. These include uncertainty at this time as to whether suspensions based upon pre-October 6 tests could be imposed during the 2003 season with the requisite competitive fairness for all 32 teams. “Discussions are continuing between the Management Council and the Players Association on the policies and procedures to be followed for any testing of samples obtained from players before October 6 as well as the specific discipline to be imposed for any positive tests based upon samples provided by players before October 6.” # # # |