David Stern is on his way out as NBA commissioner, and he hopes that the league will determine the right practices for the implementation of human growth hormone testing for its players, CBS Sports’ Ken Berger reports. Stern said last week in Las Vegas that he was hopeful about adding testing for illegal substances by next season but there have been some bumps along the road.
NBA aims to have HGH testing by next season
Working through the ouster of National Basketball Players Association director Billy Hunter, David Stern still hopes the NBA can implement testing for human growth hormone.
Scott Halleran
In February, Stern said it was “expected.” Since then, a scandal involving NBPA director Billy Hunter led to his ouster, and Stern told Berger it hasn’t helped the process that includes both the league and its players union. Nine committee members are still in the process of finding a permanent replacement for Hunter, though interim director Ron Klempner denied that the lack of leadership is hampering the process.
Klempner said a small committee representing the league and union is currently determining the best practices for HGH testing.
“HGH is a very complicated issue, and we’re going through a detailed process that involves the appointment of a committee of experts,” Klempner said. “Likewise, there was a recent decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport that has questioned some of the fundamental criteria for the testing.
“I do agree with the commissioner that we have a very open and productive dialogue on this subject,” Klempner said.
The NBA’s willingness to begin testing comes as MLB has struggled to fight HGH use. Just Monday, the recent Biogenesis scandal led to the Milwaukee Brewers’ Ryan Braun being suspended for the rest of the season, although no specific infraction has been stated by MLB officials.
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