On Thursday, the NFLPA released a proposal in an effort to resolve the differences with the NFL on the implementation of hGH testing. In its proposal, the NFL Players Association outlined several steps to ensure that the hGH testing protocol is safe, reliable and protects the due process rights of the players.

Travis Tygart, the CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, took a shot at the NFL players without addressing the specifics of the NFLPA’s proposal.  In an interview with Associated Press, Tygart said, “It seems clear now they’re protecting their dirty players by further delaying the implementation of this test…”

In response to Mr. Tygart’s statement, DeMaurice Smith, the executive director of the NFLPA said, “Mr. Tygart has had nothing but a negative influence on this process. Now that we know what he thinks of our players, it is clear that his agenda begins and ends with himself. Normally, I would call on him to apologize for calling our men ‘dirty’ but he isn’t worth the effort. We will continue to work on an hGH testing protocol that is fair and transparent.”

Dr. Martin Bidlingmaier, who developed the hGH test that WADA uses, has outlined his concerns about false positives, noting that large studies in different groups are needed to offset “a high degree of naturally occurring variation within or between individuals.”

Bidlingmaier went on to list such factors as gender, age, body composition and injury, type of sport and dietary regime and the effects of “acute and chronic exercise.” WADA has declined to provide population and validation studies.