Every so often, we come across a story that reminds us, "Oh right, the NFL still isn't testing for HGH."
It's pretty incredible that the league has been behind the curve on this, especially at a time when the shield has become increasingly focused on improving the safety of its players. HGH testing is permitted by the most recent collective bargaining agreement, but the whole process has been bogged down by sparring between the league and the NFL Players Association.
Buffalo Bills center Eric Wood is one player who wishes the league would just get on with it already. He discussed the issue Monday on Twitter (via The Buffalo News):
Just took my at home drug test for the league and they could have easily blood tested. If you're going to test cover everything
- Eric Wood (@EWood70) July 2, 2012
Asked by a follower if players are open to HGH testing, Wood replied: "They should be."
The struggles to implement HGH testing are well documented. Last year, Adolpho Birch, the official who oversees the league's drug-testing program, accused the union of stalling the launch of testing. The NFLPA had its own beef, accusing the league of "intellectual laziness" for not independently researching the accuracy of the test. The league wants to use the same testing system put in place by the World Anti-Doping Agency in 2004, but the union first wants proof the test is infallible in regard to NFL players.
In April, the two sides agreed to a population study to confirm the accuracy of the World Anti-Doping Agency test. There remains hope that testing can finally be implemented this season, but the clock is ticking. Don't hold your breath for an agreement before kickoff in September.











