User:MozHoag28/sandbox

Georgetown Football

History
Established in 1874

Background
2011 record of (8-3) Patriot League Runner-up

NFL Performance-enhancing Drug Policy
Since steroid testing began in 1987, the NFL has made strides to discourage steroid use through their testing policies and procedures. According to nflcommunications.com, The NFL collects more than 14,000 tests each year which is more than any other professional sport league. Furthermore, players are contacted with little time before their testing date, and any player who fails to test is referred to disciplinary review.The NFL has committed to testing for a wide array of Performance Enhancing drugs, Starting in 2011 the NFL implemented random blood test for the use of the Human Growth Hormone (HGH). NFL sanctions include a minimum four game suspension for first-time offenders, six game suspension for second-time offenders and a year around suspension for third-time offenders. All NFL suspensions are without pay in order to further discourage performance-enhancing drug use.

Historical Performance-enhancing Drug Studies in the NFL
In 2009 researchers conducted a survey of 2552 retired football players. The survey reported that anabolic steroids were introduced to the National Football League as early as 1963. Steroids use became so prevalent that players suspected that 90% of the NFL had used steroids. In addition to these rough statistics, Offensive-Lineman Pat Donovan suggested that up to 70% of the Dallas Cowboys offensive line had been using steroids. In 1990, a survey to 120 current NFL athletes reported that 67% of Offensive Lineman used steroids. At the conclusion of the survey, researchers found that out of 2552 ex-NFL players, 9.1% self reported using anabolic steroids during their career. Furthermore, 16.3% of Offensive lineman and 14.8% of defensive lineman surveyed reported using steroids during their careers.

Recent Developments in Performance-enhancing Drug Use in the NFL
The widespread use of performance -enhancing drugs in the NFL has been an on-going problem. Within the last eight years, three defensive rookies of the year have been charged with using illegal performance enhancing drugs. After reading such facts, there seems to be a strong correlation between success in the National Football league and the use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs. Furthermore, as these rookies were identified as cheaters, they were disciplined mildly with a suspension of four games.

Sportswriter Mike Freeman recalls a Hall of Fame Coach telling him that "For every one or two PED (performance-enhancing drug) cheats the NFL catches, 10 go free. Maybe 20". Widespread steroid use is extremely common in the NFL, often times going unnoticed by the authorities. In a study of steroid cases surrounding the 2004 Superbowl, statistics show that multiple players were discovered as steroid users. Furthermore, the study shows that those specific cases were never formally documented. "The NFL says it tests players randomly, without warning, throughout the year. And yet there's no record of these players ever testing positive". The NFL's failure to document steroid use is extremely rare and problematic. While steroid use is concealed in the NFL, it is often times the source of controversy in other professional sports leagues.