Washington In Drug Program?

[CooleyAsIce]

Didn't see this anywhere....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... tml?sub=AR

During a routine round of mandatory drug testing last August, Washington's urine sample was flagged as suspicious, and by league rule he was placed in Stage One of the NFL's substance abuse program. His urine was classified as diluted -- a potential sign of a player using a masking agent to hide illegal performance enhancers from drug screens. He was subjected to random testing throughout the season, pregame urine testing and -- most humiliating, friends say -- psychiatric evaluation.

Looks like he never actually tested positive though. Also sounds like he's got a real chip on his shoulder going into this season. Good. We need him badly.

[Gibbs4Life]

I felt like Washington got abandoned by the rest of his defense last year, his corners couldn't cover (here's looking at you Rogers Springs etc) and his line couldn't penetrate (Old man Phillip, Little Andre, and whoever we had dusted off at DT.) This year I hope Blache can light some kind of fire under the DL because the CB's are improved with Smoot and Macklin, then there is of course London and our killer safeties.

[frankcal20]

I think that it probably was embarrasing but i'm a believer in "wheres theres smoke theres fire." Im not saying he did anything but the question has to be asked why his urine was diluted. Also the franchise is staying far away. 6ust supicious. I like Washington though.

[Mursilis]

I think that it probably was embarrasing but i'm a believer in "wheres theres smoke theres fire." Im not saying he did anything but the question has to be asked why his urine was diluted.

That's crap - any athlete who's maintaining proper hydration can have diluted urine.

[Skinsfan55]

I think that it probably was embarrasing but i'm a believer in "wheres theres smoke theres fire." Im not saying he did anything but the question has to be asked why his urine was diluted.

That's crap - any athlete who's maintaining proper hydration can have diluted urine.

Thanks for your insight doctor.

Seriously, I doubt very much if they would issue psychiatric evaluations and pre-game drug testing just because Washington is drinking his gallon a day.

I don't believe Washington is on any type of illegal drug, because he only went through step one, but there was obviously more to his urine sample than proper hydration.

[Mursilis]

I think that it probably was embarrasing but i'm a believer in "wheres theres smoke theres fire." Im not saying he did anything but the question has to be asked why his urine was diluted.

That's crap - any athlete who's maintaining proper hydration can have diluted urine.

Thanks for your insight doctor.

Seriously, I doubt very much if they would issue psychiatric evaluations and pre-game drug testing just because Washington is drinking his gallon a day.

I don't believe Washington is on any type of illegal drug, because he only went through step one, but there was obviously more to his urine sample than proper hydration.

And you know this based on what?

[brad7686]

good news is nothing was proven, and merriman got caught with roids and he's a "hero", so its no biggy

[brad7686]

I felt like Washington got abandoned by the rest of his defense last year, his corners couldn't cover (here's looking at you Rogers Springs etc) and his line couldn't penetrate (Old man Phillip, Little Andre, and whoever we had dusted off at DT.) This year I hope Blache can light some kind of fire under the DL because the CB's are improved with Smoot and Macklin, then there is of course London and our killer safeties.

It's gonna take more than a fire to improve the d-line... personnel would probly be more effective

[Chris Luva Luva]

It'll be interesting to see how people react to this...

[Hoss]

Thanks for your insight doctor.

Seriously, I doubt very much if they would issue psychiatric evaluations and pre-game drug testing just because Washington is drinking his gallon a day.

I don't believe Washington is on any type of illegal drug, because he only went through step one, but there was obviously more to his urine sample than proper hydration.

Did you read the article? It pretty much explained the whole situation with the testing, psychiatric review and the distance from team officials. Anytime a urine sample comes back different than a "normal" sample and without a banned substance present it is automatically labeled as suspicious. When a sample is labeled as suspicious they put the donor into Stage 1, which requires multiple random testing and psychiatric review of the donor. Maybe it's possible that he drinks very large quantities of water. A person who drinks very large quantities of water will have their urine labeled as suspicious.

I would like to state that although I am not a doctor, I do have a medical background.

[frankcal20]

I don't and that is the basis of my opinion.

[Redskins Rule]

I don't see the big deal. He's coming back from a hip injury! He's trying like heck to make it back 100%! Leave the guy alone! And if............IF he really did beat this then I want to know how. The NFL, unless I"m mistaken, runs a very serious drug testing policy. Much more serious than MLB's. If he did beat it, then hats off to him!!!

[Smithian]

If it's true, I'll turn face and ignore it.

If it is a backup third stringer, I'll smite and throw stones.

[The Hogster]

First Floyd Landis, now this??

Seriously, I don't think Marcus Washington is on roids...the policy is weird anyway...what does "diluted mean"? If its a random test, and they randomly catch you after drinking tons or water in the summer...is that enough to be 'diluted'?

Seems like they need better tests to detect stuff rather than punishing a player because their test detected too much water...

Their basically saying you're cheating because your urine is too clear...

[Mursilis]

Their basically saying you're cheating because your urine is too clear...

Exactly. I remember when I was a semi-serious bicycle racer, a professor in exercise physiology adviced our team that having clear urine was a sign your body had reached an optimal level of hydration. Serious endurance athletes frequently have 'diluted' urine.

[USAFSkinFan]

I think that it probably was embarrasing but i'm a believer in "wheres theres smoke theres fire." Im not saying he did anything but the question has to be asked why his urine was diluted.

That's crap - any athlete who's maintaining proper hydration can have diluted urine.

I agree... we have random testing in the military, and it's happened to me several times... sometimes even if you feel like you goota go, it's difficult with someone there staring at you... so I drink a ton of water right before hand so that I really really have to go... but often when I do that, the sample comes bach too diluted and I have to do it over again...

[BnGhog]

I agree wit Mursilis. I think its crap. I think this is a case of being overly cautious. Punishment for suspicion. Imagin how many people would be in jail right now, if our legal system worked that way.

[BossHog]

Thanks for your insight doctor.

Seriously, I doubt very much if they would issue psychiatric evaluations and pre-game drug testing just because Washington is drinking his gallon a day.

Well if you don't understand how it could be so, then it couldn't possibly be so, right? The whole article is about how stringent the policies are regardless of what the infraction is, but YOU doubt that they would put a player in the level one program because of a mere diluted urine sample?

Read the article. Contact the league about their policies. Then come back and tell us how much you still 'doubt' it.

The 'psychiatric evaluations and pre-game drug testing' are mandatory to ANYONE in the level one program REGARDLESS of what the infraction was specifically. The whole article is ABOUT the sitringency of the rules and how it affected Marcus Washington.

You can 'doubt' it all you want, but that doesn't make it any less true. Better yet, check out the NFL's drug policies yourself on the NFLPA site.. here are some very pertinent parts:

Failure or Refusal to Test: The Medical Advisor will be responsible for scheduling all Tests and for ensuring that players are notified when individual Testing will take place. No test may be scheduled for a time that is more than 24 hours after notification. Players will have 4 hours from the time of the scheduled test to produce a specimen. A failure or refusal to appear for required Testing at the time selected by the Medical Advisor without a valid reason as approved by the Medical Advisor, or to cooperate fully in the Testing process as determined by the Medical Advisor, or to provide a dilute* specimen (as determined in accordance with the procedures set forth in Appendix A-1), will be deemed the equivalent of a Positive Test. In addition, a deliberate effort to substitute or adulterate a specimen; or to alter a Test result;4 or to engage in prohibited doping methods5 will be treated as a Positive Test and may subject a player to additional discipline by the Commissioner.

* - A “dilute specimen” shall be defined as a urine specimen which has a specific gravity value less than 1.003 and a creatinine concentration of less than 20 mg/dL.

All NFL players shall be eligible for entrance into the Intervention Stages. Such eligibility will not be affected by termination or expiration of a player’s contract subsequent to entry into the Intervention Stages. Players enter Stage One of the Intervention Program by a Positive Test, Behavior or Self-Referral

Procedures.
(1) Intervention Evaluation: A player entering Stage One of the Intervention Program will be referred to a Regional Team which shall evaluate the player promptly. After receipt of the Regional Team’s evaluation, the Medical Director, in his discretion, shall determine whether the player should be referred for appropriate clinical intervention and/or treatment (including inpatient treatment at a Treatment Facility selected by the Medical Director as being qualified to treat the player’s particular needs) and subsequent development of a Treatment Plan. The Medical Director’s determination is not dependent upon a finding that the player carries a diagnosis of substance abuse or dependence, but rather is dependent upon whether, in the Medical Director’s judgment, participation in the Intervention Program may assist in preventing the player’s potential future misuse of substances of abuse.

http://www.nflpa.org/pdfs/rulesandregs/ ... y_2006.pdf

Now... I can't say with any certainty at all that Washington's diluted sample was caused by drinking too much water, but I can categorically tell you that testing positive for a diluted sample is treated EXACTLY THE SAME as testing positive for a banned substance as far as the league itself is concerned.

[sonofyens]

Thanks for your insight doctor.

Seriously, I doubt very much if they would issue psychiatric evaluations and pre-game drug testing just because Washington is drinking his gallon a day.

I don't believe Washington is on any type of illegal drug, because he only went through step one, but there was obviously more to his urine sample than proper hydration.

Did you read the article? It pretty much explained the whole situation with the testing, psychiatric review and the distance from team officials. Anytime a urine sample comes back different than a "normal" sample and without a banned substance present it is automatically labeled as suspicious. When a sample is labeled as suspicious they put the donor into Stage 1, which requires multiple random testing and psychiatric review of the donor. Maybe it's possible that he drinks very large quantities of water. A person who drinks very large quantities of water will have their urine labeled as suspicious.

I would like to state that although I am not a doctor, I do have a medical background.

Thats utter nonsense. A person who drinks mass quantities of water a day basically urinates water. It is not at all cloudy. It is crystal clear.

The reason for the followup testing is b/c there is SOMETHING in the urine that should not be there. Illicit or otherwise, there is a foreign substance (NOT WATER) that is affectring the output.

[Chris Luva Luva]

If it's true, I'll turn face and ignore it.

If it is a backup third stringer, I'll smite and throw stones.

Exactly.

[BnGhog]

From the Boss wrote it must be becaues of low creatinine concentration.

**Note to Marcus**

Next time you have to clear your body. Drink a red bull afterwards before your test. Red Bull has creatinine in it.

[JansenFan]

A dilute specimen can be caused by 2 circumstances. The first is very rare, and would be caused by an individual diluting the urine with water, or other liquid, by actually pouring it into the specimen at the time of collection. The second method of obtaining a dilute specimen is by consuming too many liquids, especially liquids that contain diuretics, prior to collection (ie coffee, soda pop, medications, etc). This may be inadvertent or may be on purpose on the part of the donor. In order to obtain a specimen that is not dilute, have the individual void after waking in the morning and drink 2 8oz glasses of orange juice (no coffee, pop, etc).

From American Screening, a company that test urine for pre-employment screening.

[Countertrey]

From the Boss wrote it must be becaues of low creatinine concentration.

**Note to Marcus**

Next time you have to clear your body. Drink a red bull afterwards before your test. Red Bull has creatinine in it.

You may want to check that.

[BnGhog]

Oh oops. It wasn't red bull it was a different engery drink. Monster energy drink. But thats wrong too, I read It wrong it has carnitine not creatinine. But can't you buy that in a vitamin store? I've seen the shakes that weight lifters drink that have creatinine in it.

From the Boss wrote it must be becaues of low creatinine concentration.

**Note to Marcus**

Next time you have to clear your body. Drink a red bull afterwards before your test. Red Bull has creatinine in it.

You may want to check that.

[BossHog]

Thats utter nonsense. A person who drinks mass quantities of water a day basically urinates water. It is not at all cloudy. It is crystal clear.

The reason for the followup testing is b/c there is SOMETHING in the urine that should not be there. Illicit or otherwise, there is a foreign substance (NOT WATER) that is affectring the output.

Where was it said that the sample was cloudy?

That's how rumors grow.

The sample was OFFICIALLY CLASSED AS DILUTED. Nowhere does it say that the sample was cloudy, or anythng else for that matter... not that I have seen. Do you have a link that says such? I apologize if you do, I just haven't seen anything say anything but that the sample was diluted.

The REASON for the follow-up testing is that the league immediately puts a player into Stage One of the intervention program, and that entails all of the things that I quoted in my previous post.

So he had a diluted sample... thusly entering the stage one program... was thusly tested repeatedly... passed all of his tests, and was released from the program. At no point has he had a cloudy sample, or one that tested positive for ANYTHING. All you can gean from the FACTS in the case are that FOR WHATEVER REASON, Washington turned in "a urine specimen which has a specific gravity value less than 1.003 and a creatinine concentration of less than 20 mg/dL."

From the Boss wrote it must be becaues of low creatinine concentration.

Uhhh... sure.

Sorry, i'm not really sure what you're asking or saying, but I just quoted the relevent portions of the NFL's official drug policy in my previous post, if that's what you're referring to.