NFLPA details the HGH population study

The NFL and the NFL Players Association are nearing an agreement on HGH testing and one of the first steps to that agreement is to establish a decision limit to determine what constitutes a positive test. In order to do so, every player participating in training camp will be required to give a blood sample, and those who test positive could be subject to reasonable cause testing through the end of the 2014 season, according to a release from the NFLPA.

If 5 percent or more of the samples tested come in above the decision limit, the positive results will be connected to players and those players will be subject to reasonable cause testing through the 2014 season. Any of those players who test positive again during that time will be suspended for eight games. If less than 5 percent are above the decision limit, no players will be subject to reasonable cause testing.

The NFLPA and NFL have tentatively agreed to the structure of HGH testing once the decision limit is determined. A total of 40 players will be tested each week, with five players from eight teams being randomly selected by a computer program. If a player’s result comes back above the decision limit, he will be suspended four games.

With no reliable method for determining a decision limit, the league and NFLPA hired an independent group of scientists to conduct the study. Dr. Al Rogol was hired to oversee the study and will be the only person capable of connecting a blood sample to an individual player.

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