Roger Goodell Expects HGH Testing in Place by Next Season

National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell expects the league to have testing for human growth hormone in place by next season, as reported by NFL.com.

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Goodell pointed out the league and the NFL Players Association agreed to testing in the new collective bargaining agreement two years ago. That was treated as a major victory in the days following the lockout, but there's been little progress since. 

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The announcement came during Goodell's annual state-of-the-NFL press conference on Friday in New Orleans, the site of Super Bowl XLVII.

NFL.com's report states that the NFL Players Association is still questioning the appeals process two years after the latest CBA, but Goodell doesn't believe it'll stop the two sides from getting a deal done.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport tweeted that the announcement was a positive development.

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says an agreement with the union on HGH testing is expected to come "very soon." A good sign.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 1, 2013"

Goodell explained that the science is there to indicate that HGH testing must be conducted to ensure a level playing field in football and every other sport. According to USA Today, he also stated that he would do anything to make football safer and better.

Not only would the stronger drug-testing program protect the integrity and brand of the NFL, but it would also make the game at least somewhat safer.

Earlier this month, according to USA Today, Major League Baseball became the first professional sports organization to begin testing for HGH in-season. The Olympic Committee also tests for HGH. Goodell is anxious to get the NFL on par with both.

Lawsuits and perceived contradictions in player safety policy have had Goodell under fire in recent years, but this is a big move toward making the game safer.