On Friday, the NFL Players Association representatives universally approved the terms of a new drug policy. The verdict sets up the return of Denver Broncos' wide receiver Wes Welker to the field as soon as the NFL signs off on the agreement too.
Broncos' player Wes Welker will be qualified to return to the Denver Broncos. He was also cleared from the team's concussion protocols this week after suffering from a concussion on the August 23 preseason game against Houston Texans. He is currently medically able to play. However, since he has not practiced all week, there is still a chance he won't be back on the field on Sunday.
The new drug policy includes the implementation of testing for Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and an increase in the threshold for testing positive for marijuana. The new drug policy would be ex post facto to March 11, 2014, the first day of the current NFL year.
Aside from Denver Broncos' Wes Welker, other NFL players can also benefit from the new drug policy. Among those who could have their penalties lifted are Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick and Miami Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan, each of whom was suspended four games this year under the performance-enhancing drug policy after testing positive for a banned amphetamine.
Broncos' wide receiver Wes Welker was suspended for four games last September 2 by the NFL for alleged amphetamine use. But as the discussions went through the week between NFL and NFLPA officials, the Broncos had planned for a latent change in the drug policy that would consent for Wes Welker's reinstatement.
ESPN reported that a new policy condition will allow currently suspended players under the old policy to have their suspensions attuned to reflect the new policy. ESPN also reported other changes included such as raising the perimeter of a positive marijuana test from the current 15 Nano gram per milliliter of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and the inclusion of a neutral adjudication of all drug case appeals, including for HGH.
Wes Welker's reinstatement chance came because, under the new policy, his positive test for amphetamines would now fall under the league's policy for substance abuse. Under those rules, a player enters the treatment program with the first positive test, a program that includes meeting with counselors; the player is also subject to increased testing each month.
Under the substance abuse policy, it takes multiple positive tests before the suspension phase is reached. For Wes Welker's suspension, his positive test had fallen under the PED policy, which put players into the suspension phase with the first positive test.
Under Wes Welker's original suspension, he would have been eligible to return to the team on October 6, and then would have played for the first time on the October 12 game against the New York Jets. But with the approval of the new drug policy, Wes Welker might be back on the field as soon as Sunday or Monday.
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