SEHORN BLASTS NFL DRUG, EPHEDRA POLICIES

New York Giant cornerback Jason Sehorn criticized the NFL for treating
first-time ephedra offenders more harshly than players caught using
cocaine, New York's Daily News reported.

Sehorn, who said Wednesday that he used ephedra daily until last spring, is
upset that players testing positive for the over-the-counter stimulant
receive four-game suspensions, while a positive first test for cocaine or
marijuana results only in placement in the NFL's drug treatment program.

"You want to snort some cocaine, get yourself high, get caught, now you go
in a program," he said. "They put you in a drug program to try to help you,
which is good, but you can keep on playing."

The NFL began year-round random testing for ephedra in July. It is the
first U.S. pro sports league to ban ephedrine, a substance often found in
strength-building food supplements and that can cause seizures, strokes and
even death.

Sehorn also pointed to legal drugs provided by team doctors.

"The anti-inflammatories, they pump us full of [pills], twice a day, just
to get you on the field," he said. "They'll give you a shot right before a
game. They'll give you a shot of cortisone before a game. They will shoot
you up with anything.

"But you want to take some ephedra that is sold over the counter, that is
legal, that they're trying to say could kill you ... because somebody died
somewhere?

"If you want to do us some favors, why don't you do some serious testing on
the stuff everybody in the league takes and is prescribed by doctors."

[snip]