House Dems push hearing on HGH testing delay in pro football

{mosads}But the league and the World Anti-Doping Agency, who would administer the test, have argued that the HGH blood test is accurate and player objections are unfounded. Since players have to sign off on the testing regimen, however, the program has been stuck in a stalemate.

“There appear to be few questions about the validity of the test,” the Democratic congressman wrote, noting that nearly twenty doping scientists had submitted a letter affirming the accuracy of the test.

The delay drew the attention of House Oversight Committee chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), ranking Democrat on the committee, who requested a meeting with officials from the league and players association earlier this month. The congressmen announced after the meeting that they believed testing would begin soon, but warned that a follow-up meeting would occur if the program was not implemented within two weeks.

The league had hoped to begin testing Monday, but the player’s association said that they were still not satisfied with the agreement on how the program was to be administered.

“We informed the NFL yesterday that absent a collective agreement on several critical issues, blood collection is not ready to be implemented on Monday,” the union said in a statement last Wednesday.

Still, the NFLPA said that they encouraged the congressional oversight.

“Players’ health and safety and the integrity of the game go hand in hand,” said DeMaurice Smith, director of the union, in a statement. “I applaud the members in their request for a hearing and look forward to fully discussing all of these issues as soon as possible. We are sending letters to the teams immediately in order to assist Congress in its fact finding mission.”

The league, meanwhile, argued that the need to appear before Congress was unnecessary if the players would agree to testing.

“We appreciate the committee’s
commitment to this issue, but there should be no need for this hearing
if the union would simply live up to its agreements,” the NFL said in a statement. “One was made in
August as part of the new CBA to begin
testing for HGH and another was reached with Congressmen Issa and
Cummings on October 14. The October 14 agreement was to begin
collections immediately and then work out the remaining details of the
HGH testing program promptly. We stand ready to move forward.”

This story was updated at 3:30 pm to include statements from the league and NFLPA.