THE ART OF THE NFL DRUG TEST

By Scott Daniels, Esq., NFL Draft Bible

Earlier this month, the NFL's already damaged image took another shot when Denver running back Travis Henry tested positive for a banned substance...again. In 2005, Henry, a Titan at the time, was suspended four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy for a second time. Following this infraction, Henry could face a one-year suspension.

When an NFL player tests positive for a banned substance, the general assumption is that the player was randomly selected to undergo a drug test consisting of the player giving up a urine sample. Sounds pretty simple right? Well, not quite.

After Travis Henry was exposed yet again for allegedly failing another drug test, the league's policy became an issue. Although it is clearly stated in the NFL collective bargaining agreement, most people have no idea what the league's policy consists of. One would think that a player is randomly selected to submit a urine sample and if it tests positive for a banned substance, then that player is dealt with appropriately. Once again, not quite.

When a player is tested for banned substances in the NFL, he gives two samples - an "A" and a "B" sample. If the "A" sample tests positive, then the "B" sample is used to confirm the "A" sample. When the league attempts to confirm the "A" sample, the NFL's collective bargaining agreement allows the player to have an independent expert present while the league analyzes the "B" sample. The only requirement is the player's expert is prohibited from being affiliated with a laboratory.

Apparently, Henry's chosen expert was affiliated with a laboratory. Henry's chances of a successful defense are looking bleak. For a player who has a history of violating the league's substance abuse policy, Henry shouldn't even be in the vicinity of those using banned substances.

Regardless of Henry's outcome, the NFL's drug testing policy is somewhat of a anomaly. Why is it that you need two samples to confirm that a player tests positive or not? Sample "A" contains the same urine as sample "B." It seems perfectly legitimate to use one sample and the NFL's current policy only opens the door for player challenges.

Henry is sticking to his story that it was second-hand smoke that caused his "A" sample to test positive. And chances are, if and when the NFL tests the "B" sample, the result will be the same. As for the NFL drug policy, change might be the way to go.