The New York Times has published an aggressive critique of the NFL’s new HGH testing program. The article presumes that players will be tested only once per year.
The NFL, via spokesman Greg Aiello, has objected publicly to the contention that HGH testing will occur only once per year.
As it turns out, the league is right and the Times is wrong.
Here’s the operative language from the CBA regarding the issue of HGH testing: “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.” (Emphasis added.)
It doesn’t get much clearer than that. The Times apparently failed to even try to confirm that there would be more than annual testing before ripping the league’s program based on the mistaken assumption that there would only be annual testing.
It’s a good thing the Times isn’t actually charging people for online content. Oh. Never mind.