AP Sources: Growth Hormone Test Added to NFL Deal

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

Snip: Players ratified a new, 10-year CBA on Thursday, hours after it was finalized, and two people familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press the contract allows the NFL to eventually become the first major U.S. professional sports league to use blood testing for human growth hormone.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because no formal announcement had been made about the details of the CBA.

Players would be subject to random testing for HGH, in addition to annual checks - as is the case for all banned substances in the league's drug-testing program - only after the union is confident in the way the testing and appeals process will work.

"We have to see if we agree with the test," Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis said. "If we agree with the test, then it's legit. If not, they have to come up with another one."

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