National Football League

Waxman praises NFL, players on growth hormone test

Published Aug. 5, 2011 1:16 p.m. ET

foxsports

A key member of Congress calls the NFL's intention to begin testing for human growth hormone ''a genuine and welcome breakthrough in the campaign to rid sports of the scourge of doping.''

Rep. Henry Waxman, a California Democrat who oversaw a series of House hearings on steroids in sports, issued a statement Friday saying he commends the NFL and the players' union for ''seriously addressing'' the issue.

He also notes ''there are many details to be ironed out.''

Players ratified a new collective bargaining agreement Thursday. The sides agreed that players would be subject to random testing for HGH, in addition to annual checks - as is the case for all banned substances in the NFL's drug-testing program - only after the union is confident in the way testing and appeals will work.