The NBA drug testing policy is no where near as stringent as the policies set by the NFL, MLB, and other sports organizations around the world.

The NBA only tests players randomly during the preseason. Rookies are tested randomly 3 times during the regular season while veterans escape any scrutiny. The league has the authority to issue a random drug test on any player during the season with probable cause.

In the NFL, 10 players from each team are randomly chosen to be tested every week of the regular season and post-season.

In MLB, each player is tested once between spring training and the regular season. The league reserves the right to administer additional random tests at any time.

In the NBA, there are 32 banned steriod substances. Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and other related growth hormones are NOT specifically stated on the banned substance list. In the NFL, there are approximately 80-90 banned Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) ranging from steriods, hormones, masking agents, and other compounds. In MLB, there are 46 banned PEDs including HGH. The NBA is seriously behind in maintaining its banned substance list.

HGH can only be accurately detected through a blood test and within 48 hours of its use. Urine tests cannot conclusively detect HGH. What's interesting about the MLB and the number of suspensions that have taken place, most of these suspensions were not for HGH, but for other banned substances including items commonly purchased at the local drug or health foods store (Sudafed, Actifed, Ma Huang, etc.). In the case of Manny Ramirez's infraction, he did not fail any drug tests but instead was popped because he provided MLB a copy of a prescription of a banned substance. He inadvertantly turned himself in.

So is the NBA dirty when it comes to PEDs? Hell yeah.

David Stern said in 2005 that NBA players don't need PED's because their skill set is different than those required in other sports. That's a bunch of crap. Performance Enhancing Drugs has shown up in every major organized sport where there the athletes earn money for their performances. If the sport requires strength and/or recovery, then PED's will provide an advantage.

NBA drug testing is somewhat like NBA's officiating - it's a joke.

I would not be surprised if the new generation of NBA players were taking PED's (especially HGH) in high school where there is ZERO TESTING.