NFL making huge changes to policies on substance abuse, PEDs

Modifications regarding banned non-performance enhancing substances — termed substances of abuse — are more lenient and forgiving. For example, a positive THC test now requires 350ng/ml, more than double the previous amount of 150ng/ml.

When players test positive for a banned non-performance enhancing substance, teams will no longer be notified which substance was detected. They will only be informed of the violation and the resulting punishment.

The scale of fines has also been reduced and restructured. Under the previous policy, fines were proportional to game paychecks, with half-game, whole-game, and two-game penalties for first, second and third violations. Now, a first violation will result in a $15K fine, followed by $20K for a second violation and one game check for a third.

For performance enhancing substances, new changes relate to testing time and reinstatement. Previously, players had to test within three hours of notification; now, if notified before team activities in the morning, they have to test before afternoon activities.

Suspended players no longer have to test negative for the performance enhancing substance before reinstatement. Now, they can be reinstated as long as “the presence of a substance(s) provides no performance enhancing effect,” per an NFLPA memo.

For both substances of abuse and performance enhancing substances, missed tests count as a violation with the same increase in penalties. However, missed tests will now reset to zero if a player goes a full year without missing a test. Additionally, players who record the testing process and post it on social media will be subject to a $15K fine.