Dope testing failures on the NFL, the Carolina Panthers case
By Marshall Smith
Dope testing is an essential tool for any professional branch of sports, in order to keep a standard on the quality of the players based on their real abilities, looking for those who make use of illicit substances to perform better. Dr Gary Wadler knows this pretty well, he is an internist specialized on the use of drugs on sports, he is also the author of the report that federal prosecutors use in their case against James Shortt, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to illegally prescribe steroids and human growth hormones (HGH) to several Carolina Panthers. Shortt’s prescriptions were issued for more than a year during the team’s super bowl season of 2003, during which time, no player was suspended for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy, says the report. One important fact is that the NFL does not test against HGH but every player is randomly tested at least once a year for steroids. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, referred to the case stating that HGH testing is not reliable as it has to be administered within an hour after someone takes human growth hormone for it to be detected, he said that investments are made in order to develop a trustable urine test for HGH, he also claims that the league conducts more than 10,000 steroid test a year, being only 2000 players, “so chances are every player will be tested more than once a year” he said.
As per Dr Wadler’s report, the players involved are presumably guard Kevin Donnalley, center Jeff Mitchell, tackle Todd Steussie, tight end Wesley Walls and practice squad player Louis Williams, all of them retired, with the exception of Steussie who is now playing for the St. Louis Rams, who refused to comment on the situation, the other men could not be reached. Donnalley and Steussie each were given three prescriptions for testosterone cream, allowing for numerous refills, also, Steussie and Williams were given prescriptions for a combined five NFL-banned substances, including two forms of testosterone before the Panthers left for the 2004 Super Bowl in Houston. Two other former Panthers, defensive end John Milem and punter Todd Sauerbrun who were also presumably involved, were not mentioned in the report. There was good proof on the events involving Shortt and the ex-Panthers: “Not only did I have the CDs, but I also had his written records,” Wadler told the Associated Press of his report. As per an investigation, the NFL concluded that the Panthers were not aware of the player’s visits to Shortt. Wadler is concern that players might suffer of health problems in the future: “The adverse effects of these things may not be apparent for a while, they are not innocuous drugs, and that’s the reason they’ve been regulated for so many years.” Wadler said.
Last month, Shortt was sentenced to one year and one day of prison due to the situation.
About the author:
Marshall Smith is part of the talent writers’ team on sports for the betting industry at Instant Action Sports. Feel free to reprint this article, but always make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.
Technorati Tags: Carolina Panthers, HGH, St. Louis Rams, Associated Press
