League pushes union for tougher standards

Thursday, March 31, 2005 | 10:05 a.m.

SUN WIRE SERVICES

The NFL, trying to tighten its ban on steroids, has asked the players' union to agree to a tougher standard for detecting high levels of testosterone.

Football is considered to have the most comprehensive steroids program in sports, but CBS' 60 Minutes Wednesday reported that three Carolina Panthers -- center Jeff Mitchell, punter Todd Sauerbrun and former offensive tackle Todd Steussie -- had prescriptions filled for a banned steroid less than two weeks before they played in the Super Bowl following the 2003 season.

Their violations went undetected.

The report named punter Todd Sauerbrun, center Jeff Mitchell, and offensive tackle Todd Steussie.

In the NFL, which began testing for steroids in 1987, owners hope to avoid the kind of scrutiny under which baseball finds itself following House hearings that were conducted two weeks ago.

Steroid suspensions in pro football began in 1989. Random testing was introduced in 1990 and a formal policy was negotiated into the league's collective-bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association in 1993.

"I'm comfortable our steroid policy is very effective," commissioner Paul Tagliabue said during the NFL's annual meeting last week in Kapalua, Hawaii. "And, no, I can't say I'm comfortable with things not slipping through the cracks, because THG (human growth hormone) slipped through everyone's cracks because it was not a known substance, and there was no test for it. And now that there's a test for it, we're testing.

"I think we have a very strong program and very pervasive testing and very severe penalties and a minimum number of violations. But is it perfect? No."

An NFL official said there was no connection between the move toward tougher standards and the revelations in the Carolina case. Officials of the NFLPA were traveling and not available for comment. Although the collective-bargaining agreement does not expire until 2008, revisions in some areas are made almost every year.

The issue in football is detecting substances, not adding to the list of those that are disallowed. Under the NFL's steroid policy, substances need not be specifically named; even newly-discovered steroids are banned by a catch-all phrase prohibiting "related substances."

"We're talking (to the union) about a more stringent standard when it comes to registering positives for testosterone in your system," Greg Aiello, the NFL's vice president of public relations, said Wednesday. "Based on the information we have so far, it appears this case principally involves testosterone and HGH, and that presents a unique set of circumstances because, unlike other anabolic steroids, these are naturally produced by the body.

"These (also) can legally be prescribed for medical reasons, so just the mere presence in our body of testosterone and HGH cannot establish a positive test."

The standard method for testing is to compare the amount of testosterone in a person's body with the amount of epitestosterone. Normally, the amounts should be relatively close. Under the NFL's policy, a ratio of 6-to-1 or higher in a urine sample is considered a positive test. The NFL seeks to reduce that ratio to 4-to-1, in line with a recent change in Olympic Games anti-doping rules.

"We'll seek the union's agreement to do that," Aiello said. "Taking that step will further reduce the prospect that players can use testosterone without being detected."

Under an agreement with the NFLPA, the NFL has year-round, random testing of players. Every player is tested for steroids at least once a year and seven players per team are randomly tested each week during the season. On average, each player is tested as many as a half-dozen times a year.

First-time violators are suspended for four games and subject to additional testing. A second positive test results in a six-game suspension, and a third-time violator is suspended from the league for a year.

Defensive end Julius Peppers of Carolina, safety Lee Flowers of Denver and wide receiver David Boston of Miami were among players suspended over the last two years for violation of the NFL policy concerning steroids and "related substances."

Brown is returning for his 20th season in the NFL and his ninth with the Redskins. He played with Washington from 1989-95 and rejoined the team last season after Jon Jansen was injured.

The 6-foot-5, 318-pound Brown was a backup for two games in 2004, then started the final 14 games, 13 at right tackle and one at right guard. He's missed one game over the past 11 seasons.

The Rams announced they've signed the 33-year-old Williams to a three-year, $2.65 million contract. The deal includes a $300,000 signing bonus.

McCown was 6-7 as a starter last year, but sat out the other three games while coach Dennis Green gave Shaun King and John Navarre a shot at reviving an unproductive offense.

McCown, a third-round draft pick in 2002, completed 233 of 408 passes for 2,511 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season. He finished well, completing 85 of 147 passes for 957 yards, five TDs and four interceptions in the last four games.

"If everything works out though, (the deal) could be for much longer by the end of the year," Wiley's agent Brad Blank said.

The 6-foot-4, 278-pound Wiley joins Jacksonville after one disappointing season in Dallas. He will likely start opposite fellow free agent end Reggie Hayward.

In an interview with Sirius NFL Radio, Donahoe said he's still attempting to trade Henry, but added he expects the player to return to Buffalo for the final year of his contract if a deal doesn't materialize.

"I have heard every threat that there is. It's just that time of year where people posture," Donahoe said. "But to take the year off and not play football, that is professional suicide."

Last year, Chatman had career highs of 392 yards on 65 carries and scored three touchdowns. With Tomlinson slowed by a groin injury, Chatman had several strong performances in San Diego's 12-4 season. Against Jacksonville, he rushed for 103 yards, and on consecutive plays he rushed for 31 yards and then for 41 and a touchdown.