WASHINGTON, May 19 (UPI) -- Commissioner Paul Tagliabue says he stands by the NFL's substance abuse policy.
On the second day of a hearing on Capitol Hill, he told the House Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee there is no reason to change the league's drug testing procedure, noting masking agents or any form of disguising samples is grounds for penalty.
He said a player must be "naked from knees to nose" when providing the league with a sample for testing and that there have been 54 suspensions in 15 years under the NFL's policy.
"I think that shows you a very effective program," he said. "It is working."
"We believe it has worked. We have done what we need to do," NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw said.
The subcommittee is holding hearings on proposed steroid legislation. Most leaders from the sports world have said the suggested penalties would be too severe.
