World body takes aim at NFL testing after doping report

LAUSANNE: The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Monday described allegations made in an Al-Jazeera report that Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning took human growth hormone (HGH) as “very concerning” and has urged “increased collaboration” with sports leagues in the United States.

Though Manning has vehemently denied the allegations and the source of the Al-Jazeera report has since recanted the claims he was shown making in the film, WADA says that it expects a careful investigation by the relevant authorities.

The Dec. 27 investigative documentary ‘The dark side: The secret world of sports doping,’ linked well known players from the National Football League (NFL) and Major League Baseball (MLB) with performance enhancing drugs.

Green Bay Packers linebackers Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers and Mike Neal, who the report said have used either banned hormone supplement Delta-2 or powerful anti-inflammatory drugs, also denied any wrongdoing.

David Howman, director general of WADA, said he was nevertheless taking the report seriously and took aim at the NFL.

“Al-Jazeera’s allegations are very concerning, particularly as it relates to the NFL’s and MLB’s testing programs,” Howman said in a statement.

While the documentary’s makers and its critics have clashed over the validity of the allegations, the report has nevertheless pushed concerns of illegal performance enhancements in America’s most popular sports leagues into the spotlight once again.

Athletics, cycling and baseball have all suffered huge embarrassment over doping in the past decade and latest report at the very least has highlighted long-running differences between WADA and NFL in their anti-doping strategy.

“While the NFL and the MLB are not signatories to the World Anti-Doping Code, in recent years WADA has been working with them and other professional leagues in the United States to try to bring them closer to WADA’s program,” Howman said.

“In particular with the NFL, we have been offering guidance to enhance, and increase the transparency of, their testing program.

“NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told Reuters: “Regarding Mr. Howman’s statement, we have valued our long-standing association with WADA and look forward to continuing to work closely with the organization to improve the effectiveness of all anti-doping programs.”

In August 2011, the NFL became the first major U.S. professional sports league to use blood testing for HGH, bringing the league closer to international standards.