Issa and Cummings Issue Statement on Agreement to Begin HGH Testing in NFL
Today, Reps. Darrell E. Issa and Elijah E. Cummings, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform respectively, issued the following statement after the National Football League (NFL) and the National Football League Players Association announced an agreement to amend the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug (PED) policy to include testing of NFL players for human growth hormone (HGH) beginning during the 2014 NFL season:
“We are very pleased that the NFL and the Players Association have reached a final agreement on a performance-enhancing drug policy, which includes the implementation of HGH testing in the coming weeks. This new HGH policy sends a clear message to NFL players, as well as student-athletes at the collegiate, high school, and youth levels that HGH and other performance-enhancing drugs are highly dangerous and will not be tolerated in athletic competition. While the League and the Players remain in negotiations on a new substance abuse policy for non-performance enhancing drugs, we look forward to continuing to work with the parties to reach a comprehensive agreement.”
Chairman Issa and Ranking Member Cummings have been meeting with NFL and Players Association officials over the past several years in order to help forge an agreement to begin HGH testing. In December 2012, the Oversight Committee held a hearing to explore the damaging health effects of HGH and other PEDs.