U.S. Anti-Doping Agency head on NBA testing: 'Athletes are being let down by the system'

U.S. Anti-Doping Agency head Travis Tygart says it might be time for the NBA to stop policing itself and bring in a third party to perform drug testing on players, according to ESPN's Henry Abbott.

Although it's a relatively small sample of players, Tygart says when players participating in the Olympics are under the USDA's jurisdiction, they are tested without any notice in the year leading up to the games, opposed to the NBA's policy which consists of six urine tests throughout the year.

"We're hopeful at some point the athletes are supported and given the opportunity to be held to the highest standards. They do it when they're subjected to the Olympic testing, a year out before the OIympic games. They're under our jurisdiction subject to blood testing and out out-of-competition, no-notice, no blackout periods for when they can't be tested. And they fully support it. We've never had a player say they didn't want to be part of the program because of the testing."

The NBA's general counsel, Rick Buchanan, who oversees the NBA testing, thinks the league's policy is no different from other sports leagues.

"We think we have a program that is as good as any other in pro sports," Buchanan said.

Also speaking on the topic at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference on Saturday, commissioner Adam Silver said he does not think the problem is a major issue in the NBA.

"I have no reason to believe the use of PEDs are widespread in the NBA. Both because we test and because, number two, it's not part of the culture of the NBA."