NFL POLICIES HARDER ON SUPPLEMENTS THAN ILLEGAL DRUGS

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - NFL players who test positive for steroids or banned
substances in dietary supplements are subject to a stricter penalty
structure than players who test positive for illegal drugs such as
marijuana or cocaine.

The stringency of the steroids policy could cost the Carolina Panthers a
second member of one of the league's best defensive lines. Rookie defensive
end Julius Peppers, the NFL leader in sacks with 10, is appealing a
four-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance according
to his agent, Marvin Demoff.

Peppers will play Sunday at Tampa Bay.

Starting defensive tackle Brentson Buckner is serving a four-game
suspension for taking a stimulant his agent says was formulated for weight
loss.

Earlier this season, Atlanta defensive back Ray Buchanan missed four games
for violating the policy, and Kansas City linebacker Lew Bush is currently
serving a suspension.

There's zero tolerance in a wide-ranging steroids and related substances
policy that's part of the collective bargaining agreement between the
league's 32 teams and its Players Association. One positive urine test
results in a minimum four-game suspension.

The drug and alcohol policy is initially more treatment-based than
punitive. After a first positive test, offenders are placed in Stage1 of a
mandatory drug treatment and testing program, but aren't fined or
suspended. Game suspensions occur after the third positive test.

Spokespersons for the league and the NFLPA defended the policies, saying
the steroid policy is stricter because the competitive integrity of the
game is at stake.

"The difference is that one is a medical issue and one is a competitive
issue," said Greg Aiello, NFL vice president of public relations. "Athletes
who use steroids get a competitive advantage on the field. It forces their
competitors to decide whether to use the same illegal substances.

"That's not the case when somebody uses street drugs or recreational drugs.
So that's treated more as a medical issue, and players have the opportunity
for treatment and rehabilitation."

Bush's agent, Harold Lewis, said he doesn't think the punishment in the
steroids policy is fair compared to the drug policy.

"The policies are messed up," said Lewis. "If anything, they should be
reversed.

"One is for illegal drugs, substances you could go to jail for, cocaine or
marijuana. Any citizen out there caught using those products would get into
big trouble. But in the NFL, there's a warning the first time.

"Then there's a policy for substances that give you a little bit of a lift
to get that workout done. They are legal, sold over the counter at every
nutritional store and supermarket. But, in the NFL, if you're caught with
those in your system, you get an immediate four-game suspension with no
warning."

Said Buckner's agent, George Mavrikes: "If the whole defensive line was
getting high, nothing would happen to them. But because they took a diet
pill or something of that nature, they get suspended and the team gets killed."

Panthers general manager Marty Hurney declined comment, referring questions
to the NFL.

NFLPA director of player development Stacy Robinson said he understands how
players suspended under the steroids policy could consider the penalties
harsh, but believes the firm approach is necessary.

"How we first started this (steroids) policy is players stepped up and
said, `Look, I don't want to take this stuff. If this guy takes it, I have
to take it or he'll have an unfair advantage on me.' It definitely unlevels
the playing field."

Mavrikes said he supports a strict stance against the worst of anabolic
steroids. However, he said many of the products on the steroid policy's
banned substance list don't enhance performance or disrupt competitive balance.

In addition to steroids, the list includes masking agents and stimulants.

One of the banned substances is pseudoephedrine, contained in cold
medications Sudafed, Actifed, Dimetapp and Drixoral. Also on the list is
ephedrine, found in many dietary supplements. It has been cited by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration as being dangerous to the nervous system and
heart.

A ESPN.com report Thursday cited two league sources as saying Peppers
tested positive for ephedrine or a derivative of the stimulant ephedra.
Robinson said the NFLPA stands behind the list of banned substances.

"When you look at some of those products and why players take them, they
may say it's for weight-loss, but it also gives you all this energy and
makes you work out like a bear," he said. "And if you recover quicker than
somebody else, is that a competitive advantage?"

Lewis said some of the substances were added after the sudden death of
Minnesota Vikings tackle Korey Stringer during the team's 2001 training
camp. Stringer's family has filed a $100million wrongful death lawsuit
against the Vikings.

"(The NFL) is looking at these steroids and ephedrines as being more
dangerous than smoking marijuana or taking cocaine," Lewis said.

Lewis said Bush purchased a sports performance drink that did not list
ephedrine on its label, but has since been recalled by the manufacturer.

Bush didn't receive any leniency from the NFL because players have been
warned for several years they are responsible for whatever is in their bodies.

Lewis didn't appeal Bush's suspension, and said he doesn't give Peppers, or
any other player, a good chance of winning regardless of the circumstances.

He said he is surprised the NFLPA agreed to a steroid policy that is so
inflexible.

"If I'm a player, we look at them as our partners," Lewis said of the
NFLPA. "But, guys, was somebody sleeping when you allowed this one in?"

Comparing NFL Drug, Steroid Policies

As part of the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFL
Players Association, the league has established policies to curb illegal
drug and steroid abuse. League officials say penalties for the two policies
differ because steroids and related substances can corrupt the competitive
integrity of the game, while drug use is a medical issue. The penalties of
the drug policy (marijuana, alcohol, cocaine, heroin, etc.), and the
steroid and related substances (anabolic steroids, banned dietary
supplements, etc.) policy:

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