Doctor’s Case Fuels Random Tests of Players

Some of the NFL players linked to a South Carolina doctor indicted on federal charges for giving them steroids will be subject to as many as 24 random drug tests each year, the Washington Post reported Friday.

NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue told the paper that the league concluded an investigation into reports about prescriptions written by James M. Shortt, who was charged last week with 29 counts of distributing steroids and human growth hormones, as well as a conspiracy charge.

Most of the players reportedly involved are current or former members of the Carolina Panthers. The league’s report also indicated that fewer than 10 players during a four-year period used banned substances given to them by Shortt, the Post reported.

“Every player who was part of the investigation who’s still in the league is being tested up to 24 times a year, which is the most important element of putting an end to this,” Tagliabue told the newspaper.

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The Philadelphia Eagles signed kicker Todd France off their practice squad to replace injured David Akers, who is out because of a torn hamstring. France made 24 of 34 field-goal attempts and all 15 extra-point attempts while playing in NFL Europe last spring.

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St. Louis Coach Mike Martz was hospitalized with a sinus infection, but the team expects him to be able to coach Sunday when the Rams play the New York Giants. Martz was expected to be released today in time to fly with the team to New York. Joe Vitt, the assistant head coach and linebacker coach, ran practice in Martz’s absence.

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Timmy Smith, who set a Super Bowl rushing record when he played for the Washington Redskins in 1988, has been arrested after allegedly trying to sell cocaine to an undercover drug agent in Denver. Smith, 41, and his brother, Chris, were in custody and due in court Monday, U.S. attorney’s spokesman Jeff Dorschner said.

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The Los Angeles City Council and the Community Redevelopment Agency, due to review a financing plan considered a key link in a proposal to lure the NFL back to the Coliseum, put off any action until Oct. 11.