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While the reported use of PED’s (Performance Enhancing Drugs) is sweeping through MLB and slowly through the NFL, the NBA is finally getting closer to testing for HGH (Human Growth Hormone) as well.  Read more after the jump.

Shay Marie

Reports Henry Abbot at ESPN.

The NBA and National Basketball Players Association are close to an agreement to test players’ blood for human growth hormone (HGH), according to sources with direct knowledge of the talks. Testing could begin as soon as the 2013-14 season.

David Stern has said before he expected HGH blood testing of players to happen within the next year.

Of course, the NBA has banned HGH for years, the problem has been it’s a blood test (nobody likes having blood drawn) and there were questions of the test’s reliability. But that is changing and putting pressure on the league to change, Abbott said.

But those concerns have eroded lately, sources say, with a frenzy of progress in talks between the league and union. A decisive factor: Major League Baseball and its respected union have agreed to blood tests for HGH, weakening the basketball union’s claims that the test was unreliable or that blood testing is too invasive.

Part of the challenge in getting this put together is former players union head Billy Hunter has been suspended, is expected to sue the league, and no replacement has been found. The union is a bit of a mess right now.

I’m sure however that since Stern is pushing for it that it will be implemented at some point.  It would be a bit naive of me to assume that ever single NBA player is clean but I have to admit it would kill me to find out some of my favorite stars are juicing.  I’m sure that many Lebron antagonists are hoping the test is implemented soon and reveals what they’ve been thinking that Lebron isn’t a freak of nature but is in fact receiving some synthetic help.

Well the testing won’t be in the immediate future but it’s definitely coming.

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