Gatlin works out for Texans

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2679967

Sorry if this is a D_B

 

its cool

 

How does this work? If Gatlin is suspended by the IAAF or USA Athletics for doping, how does he play in the NFL?

Or is it ok to play in the NFL unless you get caught by the league itself?

This troubles me.

 

This looks like something out of "Playmakers"

 

He was in no way connected with the league when he was caught, therefore he is only banned from IAAF sactioned events. The NFL, obviously, is not one of those events. No different than a football player playing under a suspended sentence or while on probation.

 

Since the NFL isn't a member of the IAAF or USATF they can do whatever they want. As long as he doesn't fail a drug test administered by the League With The Best Drug Policy In The World, he's clean...

 

I don't see the connection with a suspended sentance or probation here. If a guy commits a crime, that is serious, but only affects the image of the league. If he's been banned by another sport, that he would be able to just go play in another league just seems wrong to me. I think the integrity of the league would be hurt.

I'm well aware of the lack therof in the NFL, but this smells different to me. It's as though the NFL is saying, "Hey, baseball kicked you out? Well if you can run a 4.2 40, we'll take you!"

 

I thought perhaps they were working out Larry Gatlin, country singer and former University of Houston receiver.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if somebody at the league office came to the conclusion that signing him would be, you know, a bad idea image-wise.

My guess is the NFL doesn't have a policy covering something like this because it's never come up.

But they'll have one soon.

Of course, letting a drug cheat play for the Texans can't be any bigger an embarassment to the league than the Texans themselves.

 

These are the days when I actually miss the XFL...he would have been a perfect fit for that pro wrestling marketing failure league :

 

The fact is the NFL has a different set of standards for its drug policy than WADA and the IAAF and therefor a suspension in one of those federations or associations applies only to competitions that they sanction. Even punishments are different. While I agree with you in a perfect world Gatlin should not be able to join up with the NFL because of his suspension, the fact is you cannot suspend him from making a living in a completely different sport, especially if he tests positive under the NFL's drug testing. If the Texans want to take the PR hit, so be it.

 

When Tommy left the barroom, not a Gatlin boy was standing.