NFL Drug-Testing Arbitration Begins

WASHINGTON —  An arbitrator heard testimony Wednesday from the National Football League Players Assn. in the union’s grievance contending that the league’s new random drug-testing plan violates the players’ contract with management.

The 5 1/2-hour session, held behind closed doors at a downtown law office, was the first of three scheduled arbitration hearings before Kasher.

“The union rested its case today, and the NFL Management Council will state its case before the arbitrator Thursday,” league spokesman Dick Maxwell said after the hearing. “The NFL commissioner’s office presents its side next Tuesday in New York City.”

Arbitrator Richard Kasher will judge whether Commissioner Pete Rozelle’s new testing plan illegally supersedes the 1982 collective bargaining agreement between the players and management. He is expected to issue a decision in mid-September.