NFL Rules on Steroids

In a February 20, 2009 article by Steven Reinberg on the U.S. and World Report Health website, one in 10 retired National Football League players admitted in a confidential poll that they used steroids during their careers. Steroid use not only gives the NFL player who takes them an unfair advantage over his clean opponent, but also sends the wrong message to impressionable fans who emulate these professionals. To combat steroid use by its players, the NFL policy clearly states that steroid use is prohibited.

  1. Prohibited Substances

    • The NFL as of 2010 prohibits a total of 114 different types of drugs, reports Mike Florio on Sporting News' website. Broken down, Florio states there are, "58 types of anabolic steroids, five types of hormones, 14 types of anti-estrogenic agents, 26 masking agents and 11 stimulants," listed as banned in the league's policy. To ensure compliance, NFL players are not only forbidden to take the performance-enhancing substances, they are also prohibited from taking the 26 masking "agents known to hide the presence of the drugs in urine," reports Deborah Charles on Reuters.com. If a player tests positive for the making agents, he may face the same types of penalties imposed for testing positive for a steroid. In 2008, six NFL players were issued suspensions for using a banned diuretic believed to mask the use of steroids.

    Testing

    • The NFL randomly tests its players for steroid use, making sure any player who is taking steroids is unaware he is going to be tested. All players are tested at least once during football season, with 10 randomly selected players from each team tested weekly. This includes preseason play. Players must also submit to urine tests at least six times during the off-season to prevent them from including steroids in their training regimen, a time when they try to bulk up their muscle mass and increase their "game" for the following season.

    Suspension

    • Should an NFL player try to trump the policy and take steroids or steroid masking agents anyway, he will face game-time suspension. A player will be suspended from play for four games the first time he tests positive for any banned substance. If the player tests positive a second time, the game play suspension is increased to at least eight games. If the player has not learned his lesson and tests positive a third time, he will be suspended from play for one year. Players are not paid during their game suspensions. Considering some of the salaries these players made in the 2009 to 2010 season, this may result in a loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars. This significant financial loss may discourage NFL players from taking steroids.