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In response to the revelation that Rams cornerback Fakhir Brown avoided a one-year suspension after a sample he produced for drug testing during the 2007 season was deemed to be diluted, a league source tells us that the NFL’s policy regarding samples containing too much water hasn’t been very successful in application.
Per the source, the policy regarding dilute samples has been used five times since its inception. The source says that, in each case, the test result was overturned.
The source explained that the entire concept of a diluted specimen contradicts the league’s obsession with proper hydration (a concept that likely became even more important in the wake of Korey Stringer’s death during training camp in 2001).
In fact, at least one player who tested positive under the drug policy by virtue of generating a diluted specimen was already having his urine tested by the team on a daily basis in order to ensure that there was enough water in his wee.
The source points the blame for these conflicting programs directly at the union: “Why did the NFLPA ever agree to a rule that is nothing more than a trap for many players?”
It’s a great question — one of many that need to be asked, and answered, when it comes to why the union does what it does.
May 12th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
It is a difficult balance - the easiest way to not test positive for urine drug test is to drink a lot of water. i am sure athletes know this. so you have to have some rule in place that stops this. but the balance is that athletes are told to drink a lot of fluids for hydration purposes.
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May 12th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
“The source explained that the entire concept of a diluted specimen contradicts the league’s obsession with proper hydration (a concept that likely became even more important in the wake of Korey Stringer’s death during training camp in 2001). ”
Actually, having to much water in you body is just as dangerous as having not enough. It can cause a condition called hyperhydration (also called water intoxication or water poisoning) that can disturb the electrolyte balance in the body and is a potentially fatal condition.
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May 12th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
5 overturned tests out of how many hundreds?
I’d say there is no problem.
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May 12th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Enrage is right. People have died from drinking too much water!
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May 12th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Enrage, true but that is extremely unlikely to happen with players, considering how hard they practice and work out.
Typically, when you people hyperhydrate its because they drink too much water, and then don’t go to the bathroom, or don’t exercise enough for it to sweat out of their body. I doubt that anyone is practicing so little that they aren’t sweating enough….
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May 12th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
We need a better explanation, definition on this matter, sounds like it is a lot more complicated than what first meets the eye.
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May 12th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
This thread really pisses me off.
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May 12th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Water intoxication is called hyponatremia or low sodium. It can cause psychosis, seizures and death. This is why babies don’t drink water. Death in athletes usually occurs during a marathon by an undertrained participant who drinks only water and not electrolyte drinks such as gatoraide. It is not a realistic concern for pro football players. Declaring a urine test as positive because of low specific gravity is not valid in any state’s drug free workplace policy or any criminal justice system. It is simply bad science and the policy should be changed.
Why does the leage even test for marijauna anyway? The NBA doesn’t. Everone knows pot is only performance enhancing in hacky sack and frisbee. It is because of the horrible, upredictible and violent behavior potheads are known to exhibit as revealed in the documentary “Refer Madness”? Or is it just another product of the failed war on drugs that treats a minor public health issue like a pervasive criminal threat?
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May 12th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
reefer madness? puh-leeze. pot induces munchies and slothness.
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May 12th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
That policy is counter-productive and down right asinine. These guys have to make sure they are properly hydrated - and then the testing people want to say they’re ‘overly’ hydrated a.k.a. ‘diuted’ ?
gimmie a break.
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May 12th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
in response to winkel33,
i have to disagree:
“the easiest way to not test positive for urine drug test” is to not use drugs at all.
at least that’s what i’ve found through my experience. . .
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