NFL Capsules: Union remains skeptical about HGH test's validity

The future of testing for human growth hormone is shaping up to be a contentious issue in negotiations between the NFL and the players’ union, with the league supporting blood-based testing and the union less convinced about its validity.

Kevin Mawae, the president of the NFL Players Association, told The Associated Press on Sunday that the union is aware of developing tests, one of which is a blood test that could detect HGH for up to 14 days. But he said the union believes the test that is currently available, which has only about a 48-hour window of detection, “is not completely reliable.”

“The testing of HGH is a CBA (collective bargaining agreement) issue that has been discussed on a number of different occasions,” Mawae said in an e-mail to AP. “The PA and the players of the NFL will always be in favor of fair and competitive play without the use of performance-enhancing drugs.”

The current collective bargaining agreement expires in March, which could lead to a work stoppage during the 2011 season. While the key issues are expected to revolve around finances, the future of the salary cap and free agency, there are signs that the future of drug testing will be an issue.

Over the past several months, the league has become a more vocal supporter of blood-based testing, saying the current blood test — widely available since 2008, but not used by the NFL — is reliable, while the test that’s being developed could add another way to catch HGH users.

“I don’t necessarily subscribe to the view that the short detection window by itself renders the (current) test inadequate,” Adolpho Birch, who oversees the NFL’s drug policy, told the AP in an interview last week. “It does provide a deterrent effect. A longer window is helpful and will do a lot to provide better detection. I don’t know if it’s a game-changer, per se, but it is important.”

Experts at the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency call the current test completely reliable and believe the new blood test could blunt the need for more research to develop a urine-based test, which has long been the preference of the football and baseball unions. A urine test is believed to be several years away and the NFL wants an HGH test in place sooner rather than later.

“In a perfect world, a urine test would be far easier for us to deal with and administer than a blood test,” Birch said. “The problem is, we thought there was some chance a urine test could be developed. That’s increasingly looking less likely. The practical reality is, we need to focus on a test that works, and the test that works is blood.”

Mawae said the union knows there’s no room for performance-enhancing drugs in the NFL.

“Quite frankly, players who use PEDs cheat themselves, cheat their peers, and cheat the game,” he said. “We are well aware of the efforts in developing a reliable test for HGH, and to this point, understand that the test that is available is not completely reliable.”

Vick a no-show at his own celebrity golf tourney

TUCKER, Ga. (AP) — Michael Vick was a no-show at his celebrity golf tournament Sunday after probation officials restricted travel for the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback this weekend.

Vick spokeswoman, Judy Smith, said that Vick’s travel has been at the discretion of his probation officer since he was released from prison in a federal dogfighting case in May 2009.

The restriction follows a prosecutor saying this week that while Vick wasn’t involved in a shooting after his 30th birthday party in Virginia Beach, Va., that he was in a confrontation before the incident.

Vick missed the Michael Vick Celebrity Golf tournament in Georgia and also did not make a scheduled appearance at a youth football camp in Raleigh, N.C., this weekend.

Spokespersons for both events say they were notified Sunday morning that Vick would not be attending.

“They called early, like 2 o’clock in the morning, telling us he’s not coming,” said Cornelius Corprew, director of Camp Elite Sports’ two-day football camp. “And then we couldn’t speak to him. It was through one of his associates.

“We’re not crazy. No state agency is communicating at 2 o’clock in the morning that he’s not allowed to come. I think that was a selfish act.”

Corprew, who said that he was told Saturday by Vick representatives that the NFL star would be there Sunday. He said Vick was paid a $2,000 deposit of a $4,000 fee. He said the camp was built around Vick’s appearance, and that campers paid $175 each and were promised packages that included photos and autographs.

“I’m upset because our camp is built on integrity and character and that’s what we teach to our kids,” Corprew said.

Rema Miller, whose Atlanta-based company promoted the charity golf tournament, said she spoke with Vick on Friday and he indicated at that time he was meeting with the Eagles.

On Sunday, Vick told event organizers he could not appear.

“He was coming at the time, but unfortunately he had to go meet with Philly for a team meeting,” Miller said. “He did send a message that he hates that he could not be here, but he appreciates everybody coming out to support the charities.”

Terance Mathis, a former Vick teammate with the Atlanta Falcons, played in the golf tournament. He said he was disappointed Vick wasn’t there, but admires Vick’s charitable efforts.

“He’s still doing a great thing, trying to raise money for charities and help the community,” said the former NFL wide receiver. “It’s an unfortunate thing that happened, and when that happens, law enforcement does what they have to do. But it doesn’t change how I feel about the guy and what he’s trying to accomplish.”

Though the events were scheduled on the same weekend, Corprew said he was assured that it would not present a problem. He said he was told not to worry about the golf tournament — that Vick would take care of them first.

Corprew said Vick missed an opportunity.

“You talk about second chances,” he said. “You’re given a great second chance and this would’ve been the perfect place to show he appreciated being given a second chance.”

The victim in the June 25 shooting has not be identified by the police, but Vick’s attorney, Larry Woodward, said it was Quanis Phillips — a co-defendant in the federal dogfighting case that landed Vick in federal prison. Phillips was treated at a hospital and released the following day.

Woodward said Phillips, who was sentenced to 21 months for his role in the dogfighting operation, was not an invited guest at Vick’s birthday bash.

Vick remains on three years’ probation and is not allowed to associate with anyone convicted of a felony unless granted permission to do so by his probation officer.

Police said Vick is not a suspect in the shooting.

--George Henry