League wants HGH testing, needs players to want it, too

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In a recent blurb regarding the reported increase in HGH use among NFL players, we suggested that the league isnt using available legal avenues to compel the NFLPA to honor its 2011 agreement to permit HGH testing perhaps because the league doesnt really want HGH testing.

Our comment sparked a back-channel discussion with the powers-that-be at 345 Park Avenue, which culminated in a Friday telephone interview with NFL Senior V.P. of Labor Law and Policy Adolpho Birch.

There is no vehicle we could use that is anything beyond pointless, Birch said regarding the use of litigation or arbitration to compel the players to honor the existing deal.

Birch explained that the Collective Bargaining Agreement doesnt specifically mandate testing; it requires negotiation as to the procedures that will be used. At most, then, a grievance filed under the labor deal would result in a ruling directing the NFLPA to negotiate in good faith something the NFLPA surely believes its doing.

Litigation in court isnt an option, Birch said, given the specific terms of the labor deal.

He suggested that the NFL could file an unfair labor practices charge with the National Labor Relations Board, but Birch pointed out that the process could take longer than it would to negotiate an HGH testing agreement without government involvement. Moreover, compelling the players to submit to testing isnt the way the league wants to proceed.

The root of it is that, even if we can force the issue, that is not going to work, Birch said. The cornerstone of this policy from 1989 forward has been that the players have understood, appreciated, and bought in to what were trying to do. At the end of the day, its going to have to be negotiated.

The problem is that, in the 21 months since the labor deal was signed, little if any negotiation has occurred regarding HGH testing. From the leagues perspective, its unclear precisely what the NFLPA wants in return for a commitment to submit to HGH testing.

A year ago I would say one thing, three months ago I would say another thing, right now Ill tell you I have no idea, Birch said.

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League wants HGH testing, needs players to want it, too