Widespread Steroid Use in NFL Told : Congressional Panel Hears Testimony of Current, Ex-Players

Steroid use in the National Football League is widespread and much greater than the league will admit, current and former players said in congressional testimony today.

“I believe steroid use is rampant among the NFL, and that includes my own team,” Atlanta Falcons lineman Bill Fralic told the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“It is rampant in colleges and it is rampant in high schools. Everybody is blind to it because they choose to ignore what is happening in the world of steroids,” he added.

Former Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay player Steve Courson said steroid use had reached epidemic proportions in the NFL.

“I would estimate conservatively 50% of the line of scrimmage (offensive and defensive linemen) postions have augmented or still periodically augment their training programs with steroids,” Courson said.

He said steroid use is lower among linebackers, running backs and receivers.

Steroid use gained international attention in 1988 when Canada’s Ben Johnson was stripped of his Olympic gold medal in the 100-meter sprint after testing positive for steroids.

Steroid use can make athletes bigger, stronger and faster, but it can also cause high blood pressure, heart attacks and other health problems, witnesses said.

NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle said preseason tests in 1987 and 1988 found steroid use among 6% to 7% of players, adding that he thinks that figure is probably low.

Rozelle said all players would be tested for steroids when preseason training camps open in July. Any players testing positive will be suspended for 30 days or until the effects of the drug wear off and will be retested during the season.

But Fralic said players using steroids could stop six weeks before the start of training camp so that they could pass the tests and then resume steroid use for the rest of the year. He called for random testing during the season.

“Steroids do not provide playing field strength. They are a crutch,” Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Chuck Noll said.