Congressman Wants Panthers' Steroid Probe Reopened

08/30/06

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- California U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman is urging the NFL to reopen its internal investigation of steroid use by former Carolina Panthers players.

Waxman's call followed a story in Sunday's editions of The Charlotte Observer that detailed multiple, refillable steroid prescriptions given to team members during the Panthers' 2003 Super Bowl season by a South Carolina doctor.

Since none of the players involved ever tested positive for steroid use, Waxman said the report indicates serious flaws in the NFL's testing program. And he said if the allegations are true, the league needs to find out why the players weren't caught and make changes so that cheaters aren't flaunting the system.

Dr. James Shortt pleaded guilty in March to conspiring to illegally prescribe steroids and human growth hormone to several Panthers players. He was sentenced last month to one year and one day in prison.