NFL, union still working on pact for HGH testing

Posted: 04:32 PM ET May 26, 2012

By Josh Katzowitz | NFL Blogger

There was a time -- oh, about 10 months ago -- when we were told HGH testing for NFL players was drawing near. Although this was before the lockout ended, NFL attorney Jeff Pash said the league wanted testing instituted for the 2011 season and that the NFLPA supported the measure.

Obviously, nothing about that statement came to fruition.

A few months later, the union apparently was "stalling," and although the World Anti-Doping Agency was ready to begin testing, the NFLPA did not approve of the testing procedure. As union executive director DeMaurice Smith said at the time, ?Nobody knows what goes into the WADA standard of how they adjudicate players who have apparently or been told they take HGH. So if we are going to go to a system where our guys are going to be measured against a standard we can't see and a standard that we can't challenge, if you were in my job would you recommend doing that? No."

So, where does the NFL and the NFLPA stand now? Further away than ever, apparently.

As the Washington Post writes, the NFL and NFLPA are looking for a new candidate to oversee the study that would satisfy the union enough to give its OK for testing.

?We just recently found out .?.?. the league's choice to run the population study that we had consented to recently withdrew and said that he wasn't the right person to get this done,? Smith told reporters. ?I'm thrilled that the league has made a decision to move forward with the population study. I'm a little frustrated that their selection has now pulled out so that we have to again re-up and try to get this done.?

So, what the heck happened?

From the Post: ?A person familiar with the league's view of the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the deliberations, said the league believes the union's actions caused the scientist who had agreed to do the population study to withdraw. The candidate became convinced the study was scientifically unnecessary and thought the union's actions indicated the study was more about politics than science, the person said, adding that other scientists have declined to be involved for similar reasons.?

The reason the union wants a population study is so it can know what will constitute a positive HGH test on those people who are the size of NFL players. The NFL thinks that study is unnecessary but is willing to do it to begin the testing process.

But once this population study is cleared up, then everything will be cool, right? Um, not exactly.

?Our position is the population study is one issue as it relates to HGH,? Smith said. ?Are there other outstanding issues with respect to the overall drug policy that we would like to see? Absolutely?. Are there issues that we need to work out? Sure. But to say is that the only issue left? No.?

Which is why the two sides appear as far away as ever when it comes to the HGH issue.

For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnNFL on Twitter, and subscribe to our Pick-6 Podcast and NFL newsletter. You can follow Josh Katzowitz on Twitter here: @joshkatzowitz.

lin j.r. smith espn jeremy lin kate upton sleigh bells meek sturgis