The NFL and NFL Players Association officially announced on Friday their agreement on a wide-ranging series of changes to their programs on substance abuse and performance enhancing substances, minutes before NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell held his press conference in New York.
As part of the new policy, the suspension of Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon has been cut to 10 games. Gordon has already served two games of his ban for a failed drug test and will be eligible to return for a Week 12 road matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick and St. Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey -- who had all previously been serving suspensions -- were cleared to return to action earlier this week. It was also announced that free agent wide receiver LaVon Brazill will also be eligible to return after 10 games.
Key revisions to the program, as laid out by the NFL and NFLPA on Friday:
» HGH testing will be fully implemented this season. Information on testing procedures will be sent to clubs and players within the week, and testing should begin by the end of this month.
» Appeals of positive tests in both the substance abuse and performance enhancing drug programs (including HGH) will be heard by third-party arbitrators jointly selected appointed and retained by the NFL and NFLPA. Appeals will be processed more expeditiously under uniform rules and procedures.
» Discipline for violations of the performance enhancing drug policy (including for HGH) will be modified.
» A first violation will result in a suspension without pay of up to six games depending on the nature of the violation. Use of a diuretic or masking agent will result in a suspension without pay of two games. Use of a steroid, stimulant, HGH or other banned substance will result in a suspension without pay of four games. Evidence of an attempt to manipulate a test will result in a suspension without pay of six games.
» A second violation of the steroid policy will result in a suspension without pay of 10 games. A third violation will result in banishment for a minimum of two years.
» Players who test positive for banned stimulants in the off-season will no longer be suspended. Instead, the player will be referred to the substance abuse program. Players who test positive for banned stimulants during the season will continue to be suspended without pay for four games.
» In cases involving discipline for violations other than positive tests (for example, a violation of law), the Commissioner will retain his current disciplinary authority. A player will have a right of appeal based on due process issues or a claim of disparate punishment. This appeal will be heard by a member of the existing CBA Appeals Panel.
» Two discipline stages will be added for marijuana positives, as follows: a first violation will result in referral to the substance abuse program, as is the case today. Subsequent violations will result in a two-game fine, a four-game fine, a four-game suspension, a 10-game suspension and one-year banishment. The new stages are the two-game fine and the 10-game suspension. In addition, the threshold for a positive marijuana test will be raised from 15 ng/ml to 35 ng/ml, reflecting recent actions taken by other testing organizations.
» Discipline for DUI and related offenses will be increased. A first DUI offense, absent aggravating circumstances, will result in a two-game suspension without pay. A second offense will result in a suspension of at least eight games without pay. In either case, a more lengthy suspension may be imposed if there are aggravating circumstances.
» Players currently serving one-year suspensions for a marijuana positive will have their suspensions reduced to 10 games.
"With these changes, the NFL and NFLPA once again have the finest and most comprehensive set of drug policies in sports," Goodell said in a statement.
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