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DALLAS -- The NFL and its players have agreed to follow
stricter standards for testosterone levels for the start of next
season. The upgrade, which required the approval of the NFL Players
Association, had been expected to be adopted, but not until next
month, when the NFL and the union hold their annual discussions
about revising the drug program. However, commissioner Paul
Tagliabue said Tuesday that the union had approved the new
standards, which continue its practice of using the guidelines set
by the Olympics. "I know we've reached some preliminary agreements with the
players last week and we'll probably finalize them next week,"
Tagliabue said during a speech as part of the SMU Lecture Series.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt
were among the attendees. The NFL's program -- which includes random testing and
suspensions for first-time failures -- has been widely credited as
being among the toughest in professional sports. Last week, the NFL submitted documents to a Congressional
subcommittee which investigated steroids in baseball and is
continuing with scrutiny in other sports. CBS' "Sixty Minutes"
reported two weeks ago that three Carolina Panthers players had
steroid prescriptions filled by a South Carolina doctor now under
investigation by federal authorities. Under the previous guideline used by the International Olympic
Committee and the NFL, a ratio above 6:1 of testosterone to
epitestosterone, another natural hormone, was considered a failed
test. Now it's 4:1. The most likely natural ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone
in humans is 1:1. "We try to stay as much ahead of the curve as we can," Gene
Upshaw, the executive director of the NFL Players Association, said
in a telephone interview. "We support trying to get cheaters off
the field any way we can. This is another example of that." The IOC made its change after new equipment became available.
The NFL hopes to keep pace in the fight against steroids and other
performance-enhancing substances, having announced last month the
formation of a new drug-testing laboratory in conjunction with the
United States Anti-Doping Agency. More modifications, such as adding items to the list of banned
substances, are expected at the upcoming meeting. The annual review
usually doesn't draw much attention, but Congress usually doesn't
subpoena baseball players, either. Another issue Tagliabue is facing involves a new collective
bargaining agreement. In addition to getting players and owners to
work things out, he's trying to unite the owners' stance. He's
called a special session next week in Atlanta to continue talks
held last month at the league's annual meetings. "With some luck and ideas, we'll get it done," he said. "But
we're not there yet."
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