Professional Sports Leagues Steroid Policies

This post is designed to be a definitive, comprehensive reference regarding the performance-enhancing drug policies in place for various North American sports leagues/associations. The information contained in this report was compiled by Greg Spira and edited by Neil Paine and Sean Forman.

Send us an e-mail if you know of a policy or a suspended athlete not listed on this page, and we'll add it to the site.

Baseball - MLB

• How often do they test? At least twice per year -- once early in spring training, once later at a random date.
• How many athletes get tested? 600 players three times a year, and up to 60 in the offseason.
• What kinds of tests do they run? Urine tests only.
• What do they test for? Currently: steroids, stimulants, masking agents, and diuretics. MLB also tested for erythropoietin (EPO) in 2005 (with no positives), but hasn't tested for it since.
• What are the penalties for positive tests? A player's first positive test for steroids results in an automatic 50-game suspension. A second positive test results in a 100-game suspension. A third positive test results in a lifetime ban.
• A player's first positive test for stimulants results in mandatory drug counseling plus 6 additional tests over the rest of the year. A second positive test results in a 25-game suspension. A third positive test results in an 80 game suspension. A fourth positive test results in a lifetime ban.
• Which athletes have been suspended under this performance-enhancing drug policy? Manny Ramirez, Rafael Palmeiro, Jason Grimsley, J.C. Romero, Mike Cameron, Guillermo Mota, Neifi Perez (twice), Matt Lawton, Ryan Franklin, Rafael Betancourt, Felix Heredia, Juan Rincon, Carlos Almanzar, Jose Guillen, & Jay Gibbons (Guillen and Gibbons' suspensions were rescinded after cooperation with George Mitchell).
• Which other athletes have been implicated in PED allegations? See Baseball's Mitchell Report Players

Football - NFL

• How often do they test? 12,000 tests are conducted during the season, including 10 randomly selected players from each team in every week of the season. Players can also be randomly selected for testing up to six times each off-season.
• How many athletes get tested? Every NFL player is tested at least once per year.
• What kinds of tests do they run? Urine tests only.
• What do they test for? Steroids, stimulants, masking agents, diuretics, and EPO.
• What are the penalties for positive tests? A player's first positive test results in a 4-game unpaid suspension (players lose both their salary and a portion of their prorated signing bonus). A second positive test results in a ban of 1 season.
• Which athletes have been suspended under this performance-enhancing drug policy? Travis Henry, Shawne Merriman, Deuce McAllister, Obafemi Ayanbadejo, Daimon Shelton, Henry Taylor, Jim Miller, Ryan Tucker, Louis Cheek, Kenny Peterson, Kenard Lang, Todd Sauerbrun, Adrian Madise, Lee Flowers , Shaun Rogers, Tommy Bennett, Jude Waddy, DeMingo Graham, Chris Henry , Josh Evans, Tim Couch, Marcus Stroud, T.J. Slaughter, John Welbourn (twice), Sammy Morris, Ricky Williams, Brian Sochia, Ray Edwards, Byron Chamberlain, Bob Sapp, Artie Ulmer, Rodney Harrison, Hollis Thomas, Lyle West, Eric Moore, Jason Ferguson, Vince Amoia, Bobby Riley, Jarrod Cooper, Dana Stubblefield, Matt Stevens, Ron Solt, Paul Wiggins, Joel Steed, Stephen Cooper, Luis Castillo, Andrew Pinnock, Travis Jervey, Keith Henderson, Rollin Putzier, Scott Shanle, Vernon Kirk, Shawn Springs, Rick Razzano, Frank Wycheck, Dwayne Bowe, Joselio Hanson, Charles Grant, Will Smith, Deuce McAllister, Pat Williams, & Kevin Williams (suspensions for the latter three are currently stayed by a judge).
• Other notes:
• An anonymous survey of 2,552 retired NFL players released by the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation reported that 16% of offensive linemen and nearly 15% of defensive linemen said they used PEDs.
• Former player Walt Sweeney testified in a lawsuit that in 1974, Redskins coach George Allen told his players, "If it takes amphetamines to win, I will bring it in by the truckload."
• The NFL is the only league that definitely tests for EPO.
• Only started penalizing stimulant use in 2007.
• Like baseball, the NFL is studying the effects of and exploring possible tests for human growth hormone (HGH).

Basketball - NBA & WNBA

• How often do they test? The NBA tests every player at random between 0-4 times per year (0-3 times for WNBA players). Tests only occur at practices and games; none are conducted during the offseason.
• How many athletes get tested? Every player is eligible, though not all will be tested in a given season. Rookies have a higher probability (and frequency) of testing than veterans.
• What kinds of tests do they run? Urine tests only.
• What do they test for? Steroids, stimulants, masking agents, diuretics, cocaine, opiates, PCP, LSD, and marijuana.
• What are the penalties for positive tests? A player's first positive test for steroids, stimulants, masking agents, diuretics, cocaine, opiates, PCP, or LSD results in a 10-game suspension. A second positive test results in a 25-game suspension. A third positive test results in a ban of 1 season. A fourth positive test results in a permanent ban.
• A DUI conviction or a player's first positive test for marijuana results in mandatory entrance into the league's Substance Abuse Program. A second offense results in a $25,000 fine. A third offense results in a 5-game suspension. A fourth offense results in a 10-game suspension. Each subsequent offense results in a suspension 5 games longer than the last (i.e., 15 games for a 5th offense, 20 for a 6th, etc.).
• Which athletes have been suspended under this performance-enhancing drug policy? Rashard Lewis (10 games in 2009), Darius Miles (10 games in 2008), Chris Andersen (banned in 2006; was allowed to return in 2 years, the usual length of a "permanent ban" in these sports). Because of league rules, it is impossible to know which type of violation players were suspended for, but Andersen's problem was reputed to be hard drugs, while Miles was reportedly suspended because he used phentermine, a diet pill similar to amphetamines (but not something one would take in their stead). Lewis tested positive for an elevated testosterone level he claims was caused by an over-the-counter supplement that included a substance he did not realize was banned by the NBA.
• Other notes:
• Before 2005, the NBA's penalties for steroids were less than those for amphetamines, cocaine etc. (thought still more than for marijuana).

Hockey - NHL

• How often do they test? The NHL tests every player at random between 0-3 times per year. Most tests are conducted during off-days. Tests only occur during the regular season, not during the playoffs or offseason.
• How many athletes get tested? Every player is eligible, though not all will be tested in a given season.
• What kinds of tests do they run? Urine tests only.
• What do they test for? Steroids, and presumably masking agents as well.
• What are the penalties for positive tests? A player's first positive test results in a 20-game suspension. A second positive test results in a 60-game suspension. A third positive test results in a permanent ban.
• Which athletes have been suspended under this performance-enhancing drug policy? Sean Hill; a number of others have been banned from international play after testing positive internationally, but this hasn't happened since the NHL started its own drug policy a couple of years ago.
• Other notes:
• NHL players in international competition (i.e. the Olympics) get tested more frequently than those not competing internationally.

Auto Racing - NASCAR

• How often do they test? Two samples are taken randomly from 8 -15 drivers and/or crew members during each Sprint Cup race week.
• How many athletes get tested? Every driver is eligible. Random testing started in 2008; before, testing only occurred in suspicious situations.
• What do they test for? Both performance-enhancing and recreational drugs. Basically, it's whatever NASCAR decides; no list of banned substances is is available.
• What are the penalties for positive tests? All positive tests result in "indefinite suspensions" -- again, the length is at NASCAR's discretion.
• Which athletes have been suspended under this performance-enhancing drug policy? Jeremy Mayfield.

College Sports - NCAA

• How often do they test? Tests are conducted once during the regular season, and again during the postseason. There are also occasional offseason tests of Division I and D-II athletes (Division I schools have 18 football players and 8 other athletes, mostly baseball, tested during each offseason).
• How many athletes get tested? Every NCAA athlete (across all divisions) is subject to regular-season and postseason testing.
• What are the penalties for positive tests? An athlete's first positive test leads to a 1-year suspension. A second positive test leads to a permanent NCAA ban.
• Other notes:
• Testing is conducted by the National Center for Drug-Free Sport.

Professional Tennis - Men's & Women's

• How often do they test? Tests are conducted at random during tournaments, and to a lesser extent when players are at home. Players who reach the semifinals of a tournament are automatically tested.
• How many athletes get tested? Every player is eligible, though not all will be tested in a given year.
• What are the penalties for positive tests? One positive test results in two-year suspension. A second positive test results in a lifetime ban.
• Other notes:
• Testing is conducted by the International Tennis Federation.

Golf - PGA & LPGA Tours

• How often do they test? Tests are conducted at random during tournaments; men's players are also tested out-of-competition at random.
• How many athletes get tested? Every player is eligible, though not all will be tested in a given year.
• What do they test for? Performance-enhancing drugs, and also beta blockers & marijuana because of their calming effects.
• Which athletes have been suspended under this performance-enhancing drug policy? Doug Barron (suspended 1 year in 2009).
• Other notes:
• PGA Tour testing is conducted by the National Center for Drug-Free Sport.

Olympic Sports

• How often do they test? Rate of testing depends on sport and athletic rank. 61 percent of tests are out-of-competition.
• Who tests, and what do they test for? Olympic athletes are tested by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which adheres to the WADA Code.
• Which athletes have been banned and/or stripped of medals under this performance-enhancing drug policy? Marion Jones, USA (5 medals, 2000 Summer Olympics), Ben Johnson, Canada (1 medal, 1988 Summer Olympics)

Fighters - Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts

• How often do they test? The Nevada Athletic Commission tests fighters at random times throughout the year.
• Who tests, and what do they test for? Boxers and mixed martial arts fighters are tested based on the rules of the states in which they fight.

Summary: