MLB, union agree to in-season HGH blood testing

“Michael Weiner and the union deserve credit,” Selig said. “Way back when they were having a lot of problems I didn’t give them credit, but they do.”

Christiane Ayotte, director of the Canadian laboratory, said that the addition of random blood testing and a “longitudinal profiling program makes baseball’s program second to none in detecting and deterring the use of synthetic HGH and testosterone.”

She said the program compares favorably with any program conducted by WADA.

HGH testing remains a contentious issue in the National Football League. At a hearing last month, U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, accused the NFL players union of trying to back out of HGH testing.

NFLPA spokesman George Atallah said at the time that the union is not backing out of anything but was looking to resolve scientific issues surrounding the tests. HGH testing is part of the 10-year labor agreement reached in 2011 but protocols must be agreed to by both sides.

At the time of last month’s congressional hearing, NFL senior vice president Adolpho Birch called the union’s insistence on a population study to determine whether current HGH tests are appropriate a delay tactic that threatened that league’s leadership in drug testing matters.

“Major League Baseball and the players’ union have moved a long way from the inadequate policies that were in place when Congress first addressed ballplayers’ use of steroids.” said Henry Waxman, ranking Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.