Sunday, April 10, 2005

NBA, Players to Negotiate New Steroids Policy

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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