Once the current collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and the NBPA expires on July 1, 2005, the parties expect to negotiate a new steroids testing policy. The existing policy, which was instituted in 1998, calls for a five-game suspension for the first positive steroid test, 10 games for the second, and 25 for any subsequent positive results. Veteran players are tested only once a year--and only during training camp--unless there is "probable cause" for additional screens. In contrast, first-year players may be tested as many as three times during the season, in addition to once during training camp.
Since implementation, only three players have tested positive: Don MacLean (suspended five games in 2000); Matt Geiger (suspended only two games in 2000 because substance had been only recently banned); and Soumaila Samake (suspended five games in 2002).
Although neither the NBA nor the NBPA believes that steroids use presents a significant problem among basketball players, fallout from the recent congressional hearings on baseball/steroids has prompted reconsideration. Look for any new NBA steroids policy to include more frequent testing. (Hu, "Steroid Issue a Layup, So Far", San Fran. Chron. 4/10/05)
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