NFLPA wants new policy on drug suspensions

[JonLP24]

NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith told a Washington radio station Friday that, in talks with the NFL about a new policy for performance-enhancing drugs, the union will seek to reverse suspensions that occurred this year but are based retroactively to the previous policy.

"We don't want players to suffer because the union and league couldn't get it done before the league year," Smith told 106.7 The Fan, adding that the union would not agree to any policy that punishes players on simply being arrested.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter reported Thursday that the NFL is seeking to be able to punish players after an arrest but before the legal process plays out. The negotiations have been described as "fragile."

Two star receivers, Wes Welker of the Denver Broncos and Josh Gordon of the Cleveland Browns, are under suspension for drug violations -- Welker for four games for amphetamines and Gordon for all of the 2014 season for another positive marijuana test.

Multiple sources told ESPN.com Friday that the Broncos believe if the league and union hammer out a new policy before Welker's suspension is completed, he would be reinstated. Cleveland.com, citing league sources, also reported Gordon might be eligible for reinstatement if a revamped drug policy is approved.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11471429/nflpa-wants-new-policy-reverse-drug-suspensions

Article points out that amphetamines (unsure what drug Welker actually took as he disputes it was MDMA -- which seems like a lesser drug to me as far as physical harm & addiction are concerned) fall under the PED policy which calls for a suspension for a first offense. NFLPA wants to have that fall that under the general substance use policy.

[mythology]

1. How many players admit to taking something like steroids?

Because the league doesn't release what they tested positive for, the players get to spin the it in their favor. The NFL's performance enhancement drug testing and suspensions are an absolute joke.

4 games is nothing and unless somebody has already tested positive, they are almost never tested. I would guess that players just take the drugs on the assumption that they will beat the system most of the time. When seemingly half of the Seahawks get suspended over a couple of year period and yet all of those players played in the Super Bowl, it's obvious the league doesn't actually want to suspend players in a meaningful sense.