Porforis
13 years ago
This is a long article, here is the complete article  but a preview is below.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/david_epstein/09/02/nfl.hgh/index.html?xid=cnnbin&hpt=hp_bn10 

The NFL Player's Association has confounded the NFL and science experts in recent weeks by debating the validity of an HGH test that has been widely stamped for a approval by independent scientists, leaving some of those involved in the meetings to suggest that union politics are obstructing the process of drug testing. On Friday, owners of all 32 NFL teams received notice from the league that the HGH test would not be in place for the start of the regular season, though that was the previously agreed upon goal of the NFL and the NFLPA.

In a letter to NFLPA lawyers obtained by SI.com, NFL lead counsel Jeffrey Pash wrote that "we have now almost certainly lost the opportunity to implement this testing by the start of the regular season, and would therefore request that you let us know at the earliest possible time whether there are any remaining issues."

Gerry Baumann, professor emeritus in medicine-endocrinology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and perhaps the world's foremost authority on human growth hormone, thought that any lingering scientific issues were answered in the NFL and NFLPA's meeting last month at World Anti-Doping Agency headquarters in Montreal, which he attended as an independent expert. "To my knowledge, in the scientific community there's very little disagreement about the [HGH] test," Baumann says. "From my perspective, it appears to be quite reliable and quite conservative in terms of it errs on the side of avoiding false positives."

The NFL and the Player's Union agreed in July to begin blood testing for HGH as part of the new collective bargaining agreement, but in recent weeks the union has taken a defensive stance regarding the testing. Until an agreement is reached, the NFL's usual drug testing will proceed without an HGH test.

Baumann, who agreed to speak about the meeting at WADA headquarters in general terms, has been studying and working with human growth hormone for 30 years. He is an expert in the use of growth hormone treatment in adults and has been at the forefront of a number of major human growth hormone-related breakthroughs, among them the first sequencing of the gene that codes for the body's growth hormone receptors. And he has no vested interest in either side. Baumann walked away from the Montreal meeting feeling that, at least among the scientists in the room, there were no outstanding issues about the validity of the HGH blood test. Baumann says that he was asked "very few questions" during the meeting and that "the Player's Association side didn't raise any questions."

David Howman, director general of WADA, got the same impression. "There was no suggestion of challenge to the science," says Howman. "There weren't any high degree science questions that came up with our scientists." Which is why Howman told The New York Times that the union's science team had "accepted the test's validity." That interpretation of the meeting earned him a public rebuke from union spokesman George Atallah who said that Howman "should not be so arrogant and presumptuous to speak on our behalf or on the behalf of anybody from our team." (View the WADA presentation here.)

The scientific team from the union included two scientists from Aegis labs in Nashville and Paul Scott, a lawyer with an undergraduate degree in chemistry and biology and head of Scott Analytics, an anti-doping services firm. When contacted, Scott was not allowed by the NFLPA's legal team to discuss the meeting. Maurice Suh, an attorney representing the NFLPA in the discussions, did not return a call seeking comment.

A conspicuous absence from the union's team at the meeting was NFLPA president DeMaurice Smith. According to three people who attended the meeting, Smith canceled the day before, to the dismay of commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL executives. (Atallah could not be reached by phone and another union spokesman did not return a message seeking comment.)

According to three people who are familiar with the HGH-testing discussions between the NFL and NFLPA, Smith has been under pressure to show some resistance on HGH testing because perception among some players is that the union hastily agreed to it in collective bargaining. As Steelers safety and player representative Ryan Clark put it: "I think people wanted to get a deal done so badly that it was overlooked ... In that sense, players kind of got screwed, for lack of a better word."

Dexter_Sinister
13 years ago
If I were clean, I would be all for the test to keep the playing field even.

If not, I would find some excuse to deny its validity, call it invasive or anything just to weasel out of it.

The Steelers got a lot of beans calling the test into question after their team doc got busted with 6 figures worth of PEDs.

"Even before the controversy surfaced involving Dr. Richard Rydze, the team's longtime physician who stepped aside last season after authorities revealed he'd run up a six-figure credit card bill purchasing human growth hormone, the Pittsburgh Steelers had a history of associations with performance-enhancing drugs.

http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2011/03/23/Office-of-former-Steelers-doctor-searched/UPI-33281300900140/#ixzz1WwU8TwAA 

"In early 2007 Rydze was questioned by investigators with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about buying $150,000 worth of testosterone and human growth hormone, the Times Union in Albany, N.Y., reported."

http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2011/03/23/Office-of-former-Steelers-doctor-searched/UPI-33281300900140/ 
I want to go out like my Grandpa did. Peacefully in his sleep.
Not screaming in terror like his passengers.
Fan Shout
beast (2h) : Sounds like P Luke Elzinga has a rookie try out opportunity from the Titans
dfosterf (5h) : Luke Elzinga Punter Oklahoma stil unsigned. Green Bay has been mentioned as good fit
beast (12h) : The Packers re-signed three exclusive rights free agents WR Melton, P Whelan and RB Wilson.
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : February 5, 2002 (age 23) ok no. packers.com is wrong
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : Micah Robinson is only 19??
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : 6 first rounders on Packers defense now
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : LB Isaiah Simmons. Signed. Called it!!! Oh yeah!
Martha Careful (29-Apr) : ty bboystyle...fat fingers
bboystyle (29-Apr) : Tom*
Martha Careful (28-Apr) : RIP Packer Safety Tim Brown
beast (27-Apr) : Yeah, but also some of the wording suggestions Jax only pranked called the QB, not the others... and if he had an open spreadsheet & 3 calls
beast (27-Apr) : Thank goodness he's not leaving the Turtle in the Red Tide
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Cowboys 1st round pick Tyler Booker will indeed be bringing his pet turtle to Dallas with him
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : that contained all prospects info and contact
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : beast, according the Falcons statement Jax came across it on an ipad. If I had to guess, probably an open spread sheet or something
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Simmons put up an emoji with cheese.
beast (27-Apr) : Not sure anyone is interested in Isaiah Simmons... Collin Oliver might of taken his potential slot
beast (27-Apr) : I'm going with Jax Ulbrich is not telling the whole truth... he accidentally came across it? Why would a defensive coordinator have a QB #?
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : He's not that great, but final piece of the script.\
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : If we add Isaiah Simmons, book your Super Bowl tickets
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Colts 1st round TE Tyler Warren also got prank called, was that Jax Ulbrich as well?
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Jax Ulbrich, Jeff Ulbrich’s son, released an apology for his role in the Shedeur Sanders prank call.
Martha Careful (27-Apr) : apparently he did not participate in practice or play on the east west shrine game nor the NFL combine. The kid was a mediocre spoiled brat
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Yeah that one that was a super wounded duck that Sanders supporters are highlighting to prove a point
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Shough is the guy who missed guys at combine isn't he?
beast (27-Apr) : It's not official until I'm dead! I have a chance still! (Not really)
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : I could feel my body decomposing in real time when I read that
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : @MIKEYSAINRISTIL Tyler Shough will officially be the last person drafted to the NFL born in the 1900’s
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : saw the tweet, he meant the city
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : Was that for the team or the city?
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter · 3m Draft grade is in: Green Bay gets an A. The people, the city, the venue were all superb. NFL Draft’s next
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Matt LaFleur says Jaire Alexander is participating in #Packers offseason program, which has been conducted virtually during this first week
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : ✅ ...
buckeyepackfan (26-Apr) : Check
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Matthew Golden cahanged 81 to 22??
TheKanataThrilla (26-Apr) : Sam Howell to Vikings...guess no Aaron
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : 1 round 7 min, with one extra minute if there is a trade. 2nd round 4 minutes, 3rd -3, 2 thereafter IMO
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : Agree
dfosterf (26-Apr) : Great idea imo
dfosterf (26-Apr) : 1st round to 7 minutes with one extension
dfosterf (26-Apr) : NFL comissioner wants to shorten the 2st
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : @jalenreagors They’re discussing if Sheduer can go back to college on NFL Network LMFAOOOOO
beast (26-Apr) : Great point Martha
beast (26-Apr) : Buddy Ryan used to say if a candy bar goes missing, there are two to blame, Rex and Rob 🤪 jk 😁
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : Bum Phillips used to say there are two ways to get better. Get better players or get players to play better. We have a new DL coach
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Yes. Look at the losses last year. They can win.
beast (26-Apr) : Can Packers win with their current DL?
bboystyle (26-Apr) : waiting for a pass rusher.
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 5 minutes between picks in the 3rd
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 3rd. Hate this phone
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