Can Agents Help Prevent Use of Prohibited Substances?

With over a dozen MLB players being suspended and the recent 6-game suspension of the Denver Bronco’s Von Miller for substance abuse, I still find it difficult to not see agents being proactive in discouraging their players from using banned substances. Not only do players lose out financially, agents also fail to earn commissions on lost income due to a player’s suspension. Shouldn’t the financial gain be enough of an incentive for agents to at least attempt to discourage their clients from using these substances?

The NFLPA recently released an alert on a supplement that has likely been taken by several NFL players. The alert insists that a banned substance was found in the supplement and that all players should immediately discontinue use and dispose of any remaining product. This once again reveals how easily a player can unknowingly and unintentionally take a banned substance. Under the NFL/NFLPA drug policy, the lack of knowledge of a banned substance in a product does not excuse a player from using the prohibited substance. A player will still face suspension whether or not they have knowledge of consuming a prohibited substance.

Players need to take every precaution to avoid these substances. Often times, players choose supplements they have been taking since high school or college, what their teammates use, randomly choose a supplement at a local GNC store, or blindly endorse a product without checking the ingredients of the product or the NFL’s prohibited substances list.

Agents deal with many players, have read the collective bargaining agreement and know what substances are banned.  Agents should consider helping players pick out supplements and research any prescription drugs they may be prescribed by doctors to prevent their clients from being suspended by the league. Agents often have the time and knowledge to prevent their clients from getting into trouble, so why are they not taking a proactive approach? Can agents be effective in preventing their clients from taking these substances?