Drug Free Sports Act

The Drug Free Sports Act (H.R. 3084) would require professional sports leagues to implement a standardized, mandatory drug-testing policy for all athletes. Under this bill, the Secretary of Commerce would establish a list of prohibited performance-enhancing substances and require that every professional athlete undergo at least five random, unannounced tests per year.

For fans and the general public, this legislation aims to ensure the integrity of professional sports by establishing uniform penalties for drug use, including a half-season suspension for a first offense and a lifetime ban for a third. Additionally, the bill mandates a study on steroid and hormone use in college and high school athletics to determine if similar federal testing standards should be expanded to student-athletes. While the bill sets a national minimum for testing and penalties, it allows sports associations and players' unions to negotiate even stricter requirements if they choose.