U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Jayme Pastoric
- The Navy will begin testing its special operations forces for doping from November this year.
- It's the first time any military special operations unit has initiated force-wide regular testing.
- A Navy report raised concerns about illicit performance-enhancing substance use within the force.
The US Navy will begin randomly testing its special operations forces for steroids annd performance-enhancing drugs from November this year, the Naval Special Warfare Command said Friday.
It is the first time any military special operations unit has initiated force-wide regular drug testing, according to The New York Times.
The announcement comes the year after the death of a prospective Navy SEAL who collapsed hours after completing the "Hell Week" training program. The six-day gauntlet requires recruits to run more than 200 miles, lug heavy logs across the sand, and perform swims and situps in cold water — all while only getting around four or five hours of sleep.
While the official cause of death of Seaman Kyle Mullen, 24, was ruled to be bacterial pneumonia, the Navy discovered syringes and performance-enhancing drugs in his car, The New York Times reported. A subsequent investigation found roughly 40 candidates tested positive or admitted to using steroids or other drugs as a means to pass the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALs, or BUD/S, course.
A Navy report earlier this year, first reported by The New York Times, raised concerns that Navy leadership was aware of substance use among trainees, but did not test recruits to prevent it and failed to provide medical supervision to curb the "increased intensity" of training that left some SEAL candidates hospitalized or dead. A total of 11 SEAL candidates have died during training over the years, according to the Navy report.
In a statement released Friday, the NSW said the drug testing program "stems from the command's continuous effort to eliminate PED use."
A spokesman for the Army Special Operations Command said it is also working on developing a random drug testing program, according to AP.
The US Army and Navy's famed special operations forces include the Navy SEALs and Army's Delta Force, Green Berets, and Ranger Regiment.
9,000 troops to be among those randomly selected for urine tests
US Navy Photo
The NSW will randomly select 15% its 9,000 troops to undergo urine tests for potential doping each month.
A lab will test for the unauthorized use of PEDs, including steroids, human growth hormone, selective androgen receptor modulators, and other substances on the Department of Defense prohibited dietary supplements ingredients list.
If their test result turns positive, the sailor will face discipline and potential removal from the force.
"This incremental, random force-wide testing initiative is far more than a regulatory step — it's a steadfast commitment to the health, safety, and operational readiness of every member of the NSW community," said Rear Adm. Keith Davids, commander of Naval Special Warfare Command in the statement.
Davids said the NSW would acknowledge if individual troops had legitimate medical conditions that required treatment with prescription supplements and medication.
The Navy expects the testing to cost around $4.5 million per year for the next two years, according to The Associated Press.