NFL Plans to Begin Steroid Testing Next Year

The National Football League plans to begin testing players for steroid use in 1987, league spokesman Joe Browne said Friday.

The tests will be conducted when players report to mini-camp or training camp under terms of the collective bargaining agreement that is in effect until Aug. 1, 1987, Browne said.

The NFL bans the use of steroids, which build muscle and bulk but have serious side effects. The league has thus far not tested for steroids, however.

“All we were waiting for was a new testing methodology,” Browne said. “We needed to wait until a methodology could be developed that would give us results in a reasonable amount of time.”