Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker (83) stretches in this Aug. 23, 2014, photo prior to his game against the Houston Texans in Denver. Player representatives to the union voted to implement HGH testing for the 2014 NFL season on Sept. 12, 2014.NEW YORK – The NFL finally will have HGH testing, perhaps as early as the end of this month.
And of more immediate impact – this weekend – the new performance-enhancing drug policy the league and players’ union agreed to Wednesday will allow the Broncos’ Wes Welker and two other suspended players to return to the field.
Welker, Dallas Cowboys defensive back Orlando Scandrick and St. Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey had been suspended for four games. All can return Sunday under the new rules in which players who test positive for banned stimulants in the offseason will no longer be suspended. Instead, they will be referred to the substance abuse program.
Players who test positive for banned stimulants during the season will continue to get four-game suspensions.
“I said it was flawed and we got it fixed,” said Welker, who tested positive for amphetamines in the offseason. “I think you know that just kind of goes to show it was flawed and it’s fixed now and we can move on from it.”