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http://myespn.go.com/blogs/hashmarks/0-7-504/A-Q-amp-A-on-the-NFL-drug-policy.html
A Q&A on the NFL drug policy
June 10, 2008 2:16 PM
Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley
In response to Monday's ESPN report that Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens had been placed in the NFL's "reasonable cause" testing program for performance-enhancing drugs, Hashmarks has secured a copy of the league's "2007 Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse."
I spent part of the morning reading over the 34-page policy, and I can't say that I plan on taking it to the beach next week. As we discussed Monday, this story will simply go away if T.O. has the presence of mind to check his voice mail a little more often.
What follows is a riveting interview with myself:
Q: If a player hasn't been placed in the program, how often will he be subject to testing?
Hash: According to the league's policy, all players under contract with an NFL club will be tested once during the period beginning April 20 and continuing through Aug. 9. Testing can be done on a teamwide basis or by position groups, depending on how the league Medical Advisor wants to implement the process.
Q: What part of the policy did T.O. violate in order to end up in the league's "reasonable cause" program?
Hash: Players are supposed to provide the league a primary number (generally a cell phone) and an alternate number. T.O. apparently used Drew Rosenhaus' number as his primary contact and his cell phone as the alternate number. When the league didn't reach Rosenhaus and found that T.O.'s voice mail was full, it had reasonable cause to place him in the program. From the time players arrive in the league, they are reminded how important it is to be accessible to the regional testing representative. They're required to provide their exact location, so that the test can take place on that same day. If you've watched the Olympics long enough, you know how many athletes are banned because of a failure to show up for testing.
Q: Where does the testing take place?
Hash: According to the policy, a central laboratory certified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will analyze the urine specimens. The NFLPA (the players association) has the right to review the lab on an annual basis and can ask to have it terminated from the program.
[FONT=verdana,geneva][/FONT]
[FONT=verdana,geneva]Q: How long does a player have to respond once the call is made?[/FONT]
[FONT=verdana,geneva]Hash: The Medical Advisor will be responsible for scheduling all tests. No test may be scheduled for a time that is more than 24 hours after notification. A player will have four hours from the time he is notified to produce a specimen. A failure or refusal to show up without a legitimate excuse will be viewed as a positive test. In T.O.'s case, the league decided he had a "plausible" excuse. He'll be subject to more random tests, but he doesn't have a strike against him under the policy's guidelines. I should remind everyone that he's never tested positive in the league's program. [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana,geneva][/FONT]
[FONT=verdana,geneva]OK, all this specimen talk is making me uncomfortable. If you guys have more questions, leave them in the "comments" section and I'll be happy to answer them. [/FONT]
Sincerely,
Hashmarks Drug Czar
-------------------------------------
Pretty strict, but in these times I think it's understandable.
A Q&A on the NFL drug policy
June 10, 2008 2:16 PM
Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley
In response to Monday's ESPN report that Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens had been placed in the NFL's "reasonable cause" testing program for performance-enhancing drugs, Hashmarks has secured a copy of the league's "2007 Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse."
I spent part of the morning reading over the 34-page policy, and I can't say that I plan on taking it to the beach next week. As we discussed Monday, this story will simply go away if T.O. has the presence of mind to check his voice mail a little more often.
What follows is a riveting interview with myself:
Q: If a player hasn't been placed in the program, how often will he be subject to testing?
Hash: According to the league's policy, all players under contract with an NFL club will be tested once during the period beginning April 20 and continuing through Aug. 9. Testing can be done on a teamwide basis or by position groups, depending on how the league Medical Advisor wants to implement the process.
Q: What part of the policy did T.O. violate in order to end up in the league's "reasonable cause" program?
Hash: Players are supposed to provide the league a primary number (generally a cell phone) and an alternate number. T.O. apparently used Drew Rosenhaus' number as his primary contact and his cell phone as the alternate number. When the league didn't reach Rosenhaus and found that T.O.'s voice mail was full, it had reasonable cause to place him in the program. From the time players arrive in the league, they are reminded how important it is to be accessible to the regional testing representative. They're required to provide their exact location, so that the test can take place on that same day. If you've watched the Olympics long enough, you know how many athletes are banned because of a failure to show up for testing.
Q: Where does the testing take place?
Hash: According to the policy, a central laboratory certified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will analyze the urine specimens. The NFLPA (the players association) has the right to review the lab on an annual basis and can ask to have it terminated from the program.
[FONT=verdana,geneva][/FONT]
[FONT=verdana,geneva]Q: How long does a player have to respond once the call is made?[/FONT]
[FONT=verdana,geneva]Hash: The Medical Advisor will be responsible for scheduling all tests. No test may be scheduled for a time that is more than 24 hours after notification. A player will have four hours from the time he is notified to produce a specimen. A failure or refusal to show up without a legitimate excuse will be viewed as a positive test. In T.O.'s case, the league decided he had a "plausible" excuse. He'll be subject to more random tests, but he doesn't have a strike against him under the policy's guidelines. I should remind everyone that he's never tested positive in the league's program. [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana,geneva][/FONT]
[FONT=verdana,geneva]OK, all this specimen talk is making me uncomfortable. If you guys have more questions, leave them in the "comments" section and I'll be happy to answer them. [/FONT]
Sincerely,
Hashmarks Drug Czar
-------------------------------------
Pretty strict, but in these times I think it's understandable.
