DEA Conducted Surprise Inspections of NFL Teams

In an effort to crack down on suspected illegal prescription drug use in the NFL, agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration administered a surprise raid on multiple traveling training staffs on Sunday Nov. 16.   

Continue for updates.

Monday, Nov. 17

DEA Acknowledges Investigation, More Teams Likely to Be Inspected

Five teams were inspected by the DEA on Sunday, and more could be investigated in the future according to Jim Litke of the Associated Press:

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The five NFL road teams whose medical staffs were interviewed and subjected to spot checks of their bags by federal agents may turn out to be just the first five in line.

Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman Rusty Payne said that teams were chosen for inspection simply because they were playing away from home. They were the San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Bucs, Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions. No arrests were made and the DEA declined to comment whether any potential violations of the federal controlled substances act — the stated reason for the inspections — were discovered.

But Payne also noted Sunday that investigators from the agency "are currently interviewing NFL team doctors in several locations," suggesting the federal probe begun this summer into possible drug prescription abuse in the league could involve all 32 teams.

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Steven Feldman, a former assistant U.S. Attorney for New York's southern district, believes Sunday was far from the end of this investigation per Litke: 

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When someone from the government — even without a warrant — walks up and asks questions, they get answers and you can test those answers. They're either going to tell the truth or lie, and you can use either one in an investigation. Having worked with DEA investigators in the past, it's just one more step. My guess, is that this one is a long way from being complete.

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Sunday, Nov. 16

DEA Investigates Multiple NFL Teams

ESPN.com's John Barr, reporting for Outside the Lines, passed along a statement from DEA spokesperson Rusty Payne:

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DEA agents are currently interviewing NFL team doctors in several locations as part of an ongoing investigation into potential violations of the Controlled Substances Act.

The Drug Enforcement Administration has a responsibility under the Controlled Substances Act to ensure that registrants who possess, prescribe and dispense controlled substances are following the law.

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Among several other specific regulations concerning the handling of prescription drugs, doctors are not allowed to distribute painkillers outside the area where their practice is registered, according to Sally Jenkins and Rick Maese of The Washington Post. Moreover, team trainers are fully prohibited from handling controlled substances.

The reasoning for the raid stems from a lawsuit in May filed by more than 1,000 retired NFL players, who have alleged to be illegally given painkillers by physicians and trainers as a means to keep them on the field.

The searches, which were especially focused on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers training staffs, were done without warrants and were "administrative in nature." No one was expected to be arrested, per Barr's report.

Training staffs have been under siege in the NFL over the last several years, mostly due to the handling of concussions and other serious injuries. This is the newest wrinkle in the ever-developing story, and the league could potentially find itself in major trouble if it is found to be illegally handling prescription drugs.