WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) is urging National Football League owners and players to follow through with the highly publicized drug-testing regimen that was announced as part of the recent collective bargaining agreement. According to recent media reports, despite the agreement that every player would be tested at least once for human growth hormone (HGH) starting this season, the players’ union is now claiming the agreement was in principle only, and testing in time for the opening of the regular season may be imperiled. In a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith, Upton is calling on both parties to quickly resolve outstanding issues and immediately begin testing for HGH prior to the season’s kickoff.
In the letter to Goodell and Smith, Upton writes, “According to recent news reports, it appears that the testing regimen that sounded so promising may not be agreed upon to start the regular season. The Energy and Commerce Committee has played, and will continue to play, a prominent role on drug testing in professional sports. As its Chairman, I encourage the parties to quickly resolve any remaining issues and begin human growth hormone testing in time for the season’s kickoff."
View the full text of Upton’s letter HERE.
