As in the rest of the United States in recent years, the rules on marijuana consumption have already relaxed in the NFL. In 2020, the new collective agreement had already reduced sanctions in the event of a positive test.
From now on, you will have to increase your consumption to get caught. ESPN reports that the NFL and the players' union have agreed to several changes to the league's anti-drug policy. Changes that will take effect this week!
The main change would be the THC threshold required to generate a positive control. From 150 nanograms per milliliter, it would increase to 350, more than double! A regular consumer would need about a week to get below this threshold.
What if the players get caught? Fines will be reduced. Until then, a positive test resulted in a first fine equivalent to half of a weekly salary, which could be enormous for the stars. The second violation increased to one week's salary, then two weeks' salary for a third violation of the rules! From the fourth offense onwards, it was three weeks' pay each time.
The new scale is much more lenient: $15,000 for the first offense, $20,000 for the second, then one week's salary for the third and two weeks' salary for a fourth positive drug test.
An evolution that seems to follow that of society, and of a league where the use of marijuana is already widespread.
Fines for missed tests are also being reduced.
Fentanyl enters NFL drug policy
At the heart of a serious health crisis in the United States, fentanyl appears on the NFL drug radar. Players will now be able to be tested “if a clinical indication” makes it seem necessary.
In the event of a positive test for fentanyl, no fine, but a mandatory awareness training course. Only if the player refuses this internship will he have to pay $15,000.
More surprisingly, NFL teams will no longer be informed of the nature of the product that generated a positive test for their player. They will just be informed of the positive nature of the test, but without knowing for what substance.
Doping? More flexible too
If suspensions for doping are already quite laughable in the NFL compared to other sports, the league has also decided to soften things.
Until then, a player suspended for taking a doping product must provide a negative control for the same substance to be reinstated after his suspension. From now on, it will be enough to prove that the substance in question does not provide any help in terms of performance.
photo via Flickr
