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NFL Should Crackdown On Performance Enhancing Drugs

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - As the football world and a good deal of the non football world turn their attention to the Super Bowl, there is a great deal of talk about head trauma and concussions and the difficult job that the NFL has in its attempt to limit the damage.

It is clear they have taken some excellent strides.

One key step that may need to be bolstered is to have rigorous rules and severe penalties for the use of performance enhancing drugs. If you haven't noticed the players are dramatically bigger than a few decades ago and they are playing a high speed, high impact game. There are many ways to get around even the best screening tests.

This is why stringent rules - perhaps even multi-year suspensions, need to be put in place. The players won't like it but they may be thankful in a few decades.

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