Up to now, the football league and the player’s association can’t agree on how the HGH test will be implemented. A meeting with the WADA was not fruitful since it just created more questions than answers. The NFLPA commented that they were not satisfied about WADA’s testing methods for human growth hormone. On the other hand, the NFL believes that WADA knows their job and they can handle the HGH testing program of the league.

Union Taking a Hard Stance on HGH

The HGH test negotiation should be between the NFL and the player’s association. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency is now being dragged into their scuffle. In the meeting last August, WADA told the media that the reliability of the test is acceptable to the league and the player’s association. But the union lambasted WADA for speaking in behalf of the NFLPA. “He should not be so arrogant and presumptuous to speak on our behalf or on the behalf of anybody from our team,” NFLPA spokesman George Atallah told the NY Times.

The League Defended the Program

The league defended the role of WADA in the new anti-doping program. “This is not WADA’s program. It is our program,” said NFL spokesman Greg Aiello. He explained that the league just wanted to have a level playing field and is concerned with the health and safety of the players.

“We have always embraced the best available testing technology and been leaders in the fight against performance-enhancing drugs that distort the competition on the field and jeopardize the health and safety of athletes. We have the opportunity to do something meaningful not only for our players but for all athletes at all levels of play,” Aiello said.

Weekly Conference Canceled by NFLPA

With just a few weeks before the start of the new season, many are speculating that the HGH testing program will not be implemented. Since the player’s association is creating so many issues and demands, more time will be required by both parties to iron out their differences.

And for the NFLPA, it seems that the HGH testing is not on their priority or they are actually not interested in putting it in place. The scheduled weekly conference call was canceled Wednesday. One of the agenda that they are supposed to discuss is the HGH testing. The AP reported that most of the NFLPA executive committee were traveling or preparing for their final preseason game. The union also said that they did not receive from WADA additional information on the reliability and safety of the human growth hormone testing.

Praises Futile

When the league and the player’s association announced that they will include HGH into the current anti-doping policy, many were pleased. They received commendations from several lawmakers like Rep. Mary Bono Mack of California. “The new NFL drug policy will serve as an important example to those young people who seek to emulate their gridiron heroes and send an important message about playing and competing in a fair and clean manner,” Mack told ESPN. But these praises will become futile if both parties fail to compromise.

The league wants the HGH test but the union wants reliable testing. If the union stick to their belief that the current HGH testing method is still unreliable (though HGH testing has been in use in the Olympics since 2004), then it will be definite that the players will play this season without the blood test. The league will use the old steroid policy

Some sources said that the NFLPA is just buying more time so that their players could prepare for the HGH blood test. In other words, their reluctance to allow an independent testing agency such as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is only used as a means to delay the implementation of the human growth hormone testing in the football league. WADA has been conducting HGH tests since 2004 but only a few pro athletes were caught using the drug.

WADA Not Transparent with the Testing

In the meeting with WADA’s officials and scientist, the NFLPA told the media that they were not satisfied with the information presented to them. Top officials of the NFL and the players union attended the meeting last month. An NFLPA official was quoted saying that the WADA was not transparent with regards to the details of their HGH testing. But WADA’s director hinted that the concern of NFLPA is more on the HGH negotiation and not on the test itself.

Michael O’Keeffe of the Daily News recently wrote an article discussing why the player’s association is still hesitant to accept human growth hormone testing. The NFL and the player’s association had agreed in principle the inclusion of HGH test to the current anti-doping policies of the league. However, both parties must iron out the details of the implementing guidelines before the new program can be adopted.

Anti-Doping Scientist Sided with Player’s Union

O’Keeffe interviewed the country’s renowned anti-doping expert Don Catlin. The scientist and founder of the first anti-doping lab in the country help shed some light on this issue. He explained why the NFLPA is still reluctant in partnering with WADA. Catlin echoed the sentiment of the player’s union when they said the WADA is not transparent with how they conduct HGH testing. “I’d like to look at the data, but WADA doesn’t disclose its information so an independent scientist can review it,” Catlin told O’Keeffee.

The founder of the UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory and chief executive officer of Anti-Doping Research based in Los Angeles claimed that the World Anti-Doping Agency does not share information to other anti-doping researchers. Information regarding the number of false positives and false negatives are very significant according to Catlin. It will serve as a basis in determining whether the methods used in HGH test is accurate or not.

HGH False Positive is a Primary Concern

Catlin said that every test will have false positives but the important question is the frequency and number of athletes with false positive results. “We understand that people are sometimes put in jail or even put to death because of mistakes. One in 10,000 - is that acceptable? It’s not if you are that one person, but it’s acceptable to most of us. But if it is one in 10, then you know we are not there yet,” the anti-doping expert said. “When you put the information out there for other people to review, that’s when it gets serious.”

Player’s Apprehension

Though players want a level playing field, they are still concerned on the validity of the current testing methods for HGH. The body is also producing its own HGH so some are worried if the current test can distinguish the synthetic from the natural HGH.

The HGH drug can only be detected within 24 to 48 hours. Critics still argue if it will be an effective tool in curtailing the abuse of performance enhancing drug in football. But for Catlin, what is more important is the reliability of the test. “I’d like a test with at least a week of retrospectivity, but that’s OK as long as it is not giving a high number of false positives,” he said.

While the league and the player’s association is busy deliberating on what must be done on HGH testing, a better deal is agreed upon by both parties with regards to the enhancement of steroids policy. Several reports confirmed that the league will be implementing a two tiered policy for steroid violators. Some of the players that may become recipients of the new policy are Kevin Williams and Will Smith. This group fought their 4-game suspension for taking a supplement with a banned diuretic substance.

Taking Diuretic Results to 2-Game Suspension

According to the report of the Pioneer Press, players who were sanctioned for taking the Starcaps supplement will likely benefit from the enhancement of the steroid policy. Under the new deal, players who will be caught positive for steroids will receive 6 games suspension, an increase from the previous standard 4-game suspension. Players who will return positive for diuretics or weight loss supplements such as the Starcaps will be given 2-game suspension instead of four.

Other details of the revisions of the old policy have yet to be revealed publicly. But the new CBA is now more focused on the welfare of the players. This will serve as a good deterrent. Though a 6 games absence in the field for first time offenders could still be considered as not as tough as the 50 games suspension being implemented by the baseball league.

Kevin Williams Recuperating from Injury

If this will be implemented in the opening season, Kevin Williams and other players will be out the first two games. This will be a good news for Kevin Williams because he is still recuperating from a foot injury. Missing the first few games is not a problem because he will be given more time to rest and recover from his injury.

Kevin Williams is suffering from plantar fasciitis but told the media that he will be ready once the new season starts in September. “Just trying to take some precautions, find out exactly what’s going on. I’ll be ready for the season. It’s nothing bad,” said Williams.

Players Gave Up Appeal on StarCaps Suspension

The long legal battle ended in April when a Minnesotta court ruled the NFL can impose the 4-game sanction to players caught positive for the diuretic bumetanide. The diuretic was found in the Starcaps weight loss supplements.

The players contends that the league did not informed them it contain a banned substance. After more than two years,Pat and Kevin Williams decided to rest their case and accepted the decision of the court.

Right now, only Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams and New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith are playing. Kevin Williams told the SI that he is ready to face the 4-game suspension but still hope the new CBA will address their situation. Unsigned former defensive tackle Pat Williams and defensive end Charles Grant will escape suspension but if a team gets them, the league will impose the sanction.

Not Yet Definite

Insiders told the media that the reduction of suspension is not yet final. Since the offense was committed in 2008, the old policy might still prevail. It will now depend on the negotiations between the league and the NFLPA if they will make it retroactive.

The Wednesday meeting in Montreal confirms our suspicion that the NFL players are not totally 100% supportive of the new anti-doping measure of the NFL. The league and the player’s association included HGH testing provision in the new CBA. However, specific details of the testing procedures still depend on the final agreement between the league and the union. If both parties failed to compromise on significant issues, the league has no other option but to use the old drug testing program.

League and Union Meets WADA’s Scientists

The union requested a meeting with WADA officials to provide them with documentation on the accuracy of the methods used on HGH tests. WADA handles HGH testing in the Olympics and claim that the test for human growth hormone has been improved since its first implementation.

Top league officials who attended the meeting were Commissioner Roger Goodell, Senior vice president of law and labor policy Adolpho Birch and chief legal counsel Jeff Pash. The NFL Player’s Union was represented by executive director DeMaurice Smith, NFLPA spokesman George Atallah and other union representatives. Also present in the meeting were outside counsel Maurice Suh and scientists from Aegis Lab Paul Scott, Tim Roberts and Dennis Crouch.

WADA director David Howman also attended the meeting together with HGH expert Dr. Gerry Baumann.

Presentation Did Not Answered Union’s Questions

The three-hour presentation of WADA’s scientists failed to convince representatives of the union. Instead, NFLPA spokesman George Atallah told the media that they were disappointed with the lack of transparency of the current methods in HGH testing. This means they are not satisfied with WADA’s procedures and the reliability of the blood test.

Even before the meeting takes place, people from the union already expressed their reluctance on the inclusion of HGH tests. An insider told the AP that they will only agree to the test if they are satisfied with the testing procedures and reliability of the testing methods.

On the other hand, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said that the meeting was informative. “From our perspective, WADA’s presentation was very thorough. We still think we can have testing in place by the beginning of the season,” McCarthy said.

The league’s lead counsel Jeff Pash also told the AP that WADA was able to show very sound science and very thoughtful testing protocols. WADA will handle the HGH testing program of the league if the union will finally agree on the procedures.

Player’s Union Has Another Agenda

For Howman, the negative feedback of the NFLPA has something to do with the ongoing HGH negotiations and not with WADA’s presentation. “I thought our scientists were very responsible in providing information and answering questions,” he told the media. “We’re not part of the negotiations so it is hard for me to understand this environment,” Howman added.

USADA CEO Travis Tygart told the Williamson Daily News about his take on the issue. “You have to question their motives why, especially in light of the recent positive in baseball, that they’re retreating from wanting to put this in place,” said Tygart.

“There doesn’t seem to be any legitimate reason for all these questions when, over seven-plus years, top scientists in world in almost every testing agency have been using this test for deterrence and detection,” said Tygart who is also in the forefront against PED’s use in professional sports.

The NFL is the first professional league in North America to test for the controversial HGH drug. The league was lauded for this initiative but skeptics still doubts if the new anti-doping program will become a success. A portion of the newly drafted CBA states, “the parties confirm that the Program on Anabolic Steroids and Related Substances will include both annual blood testing and random blood testing for human growth hormone, with discipline for positive tests at the same level as for steroids.”

Last week, some football players aired their concerns on the procedures that will be implemented by the league. They contend that there is a possibility that the blood samples could be used in profiling players. Although the league already assured them that it will only be used for the HGH test.

More Compelling Issues

Now that HGH testing is part of the 10-year CBA, the issue now is on how it can effectively catch doping football players. Some players previously claimed that more than 10 percent of the players in the league could be on HGH. Others claim that the rate is higher which can reach up to 50%. With this figure, it is but right for the sport organization to adopt HGH testing. However, the current testing method for HGH can only detect the substance within 24-48 hours. A very short window period for anti-doping testers.

Anti-doping expert Charles Yesalis contends that the method of HGh testing is weak. “I don’t trust that test. It can only catch people in a small window of opportunity,” he told the Discovery.com website. He also said the human growth hormone is released in an episodic manner so the level of HGH in the body varies. This is the reason why others worry about the reliability of the testing.

Another issue that Yesalis pointed out is on how the testing procedure is implemented. “There’s not an independent group that is coming in to do the testing. The proof will be in the details and how it is implemented,” Yesalis added.

HGH Works like Steroids

Health experts are convinced that many professional athletes, not just in the football league, are using the synthetic human growth hormone. The reasons are very obvious. HGH works like anabolic steroids. This drug promotes the release of insulin growth factor in the body. It targets on muscles and bones and then turns fats into muscles. It also helps the immune system. “It does many of the things that anabolic steroids do, such as increasing strength and helping recuperation from workouts. It has all the good stuff that athletes desire,” Yesalis said.

Matt Chaney, author of a book discussing doping in football, also told the Discovery.com that many players are using HGH because it makes them more powerful. Players told him that HGH is usually combined with a low dose of anabolic steroids to avoid getting positive result in a steroid test.

First Season, the Test Drive

The league is confident that the HGH testing together with game-day testing for steroids and HGH will catch a number of doping players. But the success of these new programs can be assessed only after a season or a year of comprehensive implementation. If there is no increase in the number of positive test or none of the players were caught using HGH, then the new anti-doping initiative is not working.

The incident at the Canada-US border involving Buffalo Bills linebacker Shawne Merriman is just a part of a routine check implemented by border officers. However, a news report that began circulating last week claims that it was not an ordinary inspection but a search that led to the detention of the linebacker.

According to the unnamed source of the Buffalo Sports Daily, Merriman was detained by US Customs officers for possessing steroids. The incident happened last July 28 when Merriman was headed to the Bill’s training camp. Allegedly, “Lights Out” was apprehended at around 2:00 am but was released because mere possession of steroids is not a criminal offense. Information as to the amount of steroids or type of steroid seized from Merriman was not included in the report.

Merriman was not Happy with the Report

In an effort to clear his name, Merriman aired his side through Twitter. He is not happy with the report. “To answer your question guys im disappointed by a story that was written by a Buffalo writer regarding a routine stop at the Canadian border a few weeks ago,” he tweeted.

He vehemently denied that he was apprehended because of steroid possession. “To clarify, there was … Absolutely NO steroids found in my vehicle & there were NO charges against me. I’ve received a great welcome by the community and fans.” Merriman insisted that he is working hard in doing a good job in the field. “I’ve worked my butt off to have a great season,” he said.

Linebacker Explained What Happened

Merriman also told the Buffalo News that he usually go to Canada but not to buy steroids as others hinted. “I go there to get some massage therapy work done.” He explained that it was just a routine inspection in the border. “They just questioned me about some bags and stuff I had. I was stopped and that was it. I was coming to camp. I had suitcases and stuff like that. They just wanted to go through all my stuff,” he added.

Another website reported that the U.S. Attorney’s office in Buffalo and the U.S. Border Patrol already confirmed the claims of Merriman.

Suspicion of Steroids Possession Not Surprising

Shawne Merriman must really clear this issue. If he will not defend himself, people will think that he is taking steroids again. The linebacker was given a 4-game suspension in 2006 for violating the performance enhancing drugs policy of the league. The league found in his system the steroid nandrolone but Merriman contends that the steroid came from a tainted supplement he was taking that time.

Merriman, who was drafted 12th in 2005 NFL Draft, is not an ordinary player in the field. He was nicknamed “Lights Out” because of his hard hits and aggressive behavior. He was playing for the San Diego Chargers when he received the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The linebacker was acquired by the Buffalo Bills last year and showed impressive pre-season games. Merriman’s overall performance in the field declined recently because of several injuries so some people thought he might be using steroids again.