U.S. Congress to examine steroid use in football

The U.S. congressional committee that held a recent hearing on illegal use of steroids in baseball announced on Tuesday it will hold a proceeding next week on efforts to curb the performance-enhancing drugs in football.

The House of Representatives Government Reform Committee said in a brief statement that those invited to testify so far include: National Football League Commissioner Paul Tagliabue; Harold Henderson, the NFL’s executive vice president for labor relations, and Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFL Players Association.

Last month, the panel heard from some of the biggest names in Major League Baseball, including players and officials ordered to testify.

A committee spokeswoman said those sought from the NFL were expected to show up for next Wednesday’s hearing without the need for a subpoena.

“I appreciate the NFL’s cooperation,” said Rep. Henry Waxman of California, the panel’s top Democrat.

Committee Chairman Tom Davis, a Virginia Republican, said, “A public review of the NFL’s strategy for combating steroid use marks the next step in our investigation.”

“Examining the effectiveness of the NFL’s policy is a key part of understanding why 500,000 high school students today have tried steroids,” Davis said.

As a result of the March 17 baseball hearing, where MLB’s drug policy was denounced as laced with loopholes, lawmakers have said they may draft legislation calling for a national steroid testing policy.

The committee has also begun to examine the steroids testing policies in the National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, U.S. Soccer Federation, Association of Tennis Professionals, USA Track & Field and USA Cycling.

No hearings have yet been set for those sports, a committee spokeswoman said.

Provided by ArmMed Media
Revision date: June 22, 2011
Last revised: by Jorge P. Ribeiro, MD