The National Football League is tackling drug use among players by calling on Congress for help.
Recent court rulings prevented the league from suspending two Minnesota Vikings players who tested positive for banned substances. So, Commissioner Roger Goodell asked Congress Tuesday to enact legislation that would allow the NFL to take action against the players.
"The use of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs, in addition to being illegal, undermines the integrity of sports and poses significant health risk to the athletes," said Rep. Cliff Stearns, (R) Florida. "Allowing more lenient state laws to undermine and preempt collective bargaining agreements made between players and unions and professional sports associations such as the NFL sets a bad precedent for players and also jeopardizes public confidence in professional sports," he added.
The proposal garnered additional support from Rep. Henry Waxman, (D) California. "We should not allow the drug policies that the NFL, Major League Baseball, and other sports leagues have put in place to be rendered null and void," Rep. Waxman said. "That is an invitation for steroid abuse in professional sports. And it will inevitably lead to more steroid use on high school football fields and baseball diamonds."
The NFL attempted to suspend Minnesota Vikings Pat Williams and Kevin Williams for four games after they tested positive for a banned substance. However, the players sued and a judge issued an injunction prohibiting the league from suspending them. Williams and Williams had tested positive for the diuretic bumetanide, which is banned by the NFL because it can mask the presence of steroids.
