Report: NFLPA to vote Friday on new drug policy
The NFL Players' Association is set to vote Friday on a new drug policy that could immediately reinstate certain players who are suspended because of positive tests for amphetamines, NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported Thursday night.
According to Rapoport, the new policy would immediately reinstate suspended players such as Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker, Dallas Cowboyscornerback Orlando Scandrick and Miami Dolphinsdefensive end Dion Jordan, among others. Other situations, like Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon, are more uncertain.
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Rapoport cautioned that it's "no sure thing" the proposed new policy will pass Friday.
Major policy changes that have reportedly been under consideration as part of the new policy include raising the threshold for a positive marijuana test. It also would introduce a program to test for human growth hormone, which would be the first time in the league's history it would test for the substance.
Under the current NFL policy, THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, must be present in the blood at a level of 15 nanograms per millileter in order to trigger a positive test. The World Anti-Doping Agency, which oversees Olympic drug testing, raised its threshold for a positive test from 15 ng/ml to 150 ng/ml last summer.
''The [potency] level is so much greater in marijuana now, the secondhand smoke can get a positive test," NFLPA president Eric Winstontold The Associated Press earlier this week. "Just a guy who is around it second hand, then to have to go into the program? We don't want false positive. We have to move up the minimum to normal workplace standards.''
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GALLERY: NFL PLAYERS SUSPENDED IN 2014
NFL Suspensions for 2014
Wes Welker | WR, Denver Broncos
Damian Strohmeyer/SI
Josh Gordon | WR, Cleveland Browns
Carlos M. Saavedra/SI
Ray Rice | RB, Baltimore Ravens
Simon Bruty/SI
Matt Prater | K, Denver Broncos
Daniel Gluskoter/Icon SMI
Robert Mathis | LB, Indianapolis Colts
David Bergman/SI
Aldon Smith | LB, San Francisco 49ers
Robert Beck/SI
Dwayne Bowe | WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Robert Beck/SI
Will Hill | S, Baltimore Ravens
William Purnell/Icon SMI
Dion Jordan | DE, Miami Dolphins
Richard C. Lewis/Icon SMI
Lane Johnson | OT, Philadelphia Eagles
Hunter Martin/Philadelphia Eagles/Getty Images
Orlando Scandrick | CB, Dallas Cowboys
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Brandon Meriweather | S, Washington Redskins
Carlos M. Saavedra/SI
Jerome Simpson | WR, Minnesota Vikings
Drew Hallowell/Philadelphia Eagles/Getty Images
Josh Brent | NT, Dallas Cowboys
Tony Gutierrez/AP
Daryl Washington | LB, Arizona Cardinals
Bruce Yeung/Icon SMI
Fred Davis | TE, Free Agent
Nick Wass/AP
Stedman Bailey | WR, St. Louis Rams
Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images
LaVon Brazill | WR, Free Agent
David Bergman/SI
Jayron Hosley | CB, New York Giants
Bill Kostroun/AP
Nigel Bradham | LB, Buffalo Bills
Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
Jake Knott | LB, Free Agent
Al Tielemans/SI
Jakar Hamilton | S, Dallas Cowboys
Rick Osentoski/AP
Frank Alexander | DE, Carolina Panthers
Mike McCarn/AP
Brandon Moore | DE, Free Agent
Chris Williams/Icon SMI
Rokevious Watkins | OT, Free Agent
Jeff Moffett/Icon SMI
-Brett LoGiurato
