Owens could face additional drug testing

Jun 9, 2008 - 11:12 PM IRVING, Texas (Ticker) -- Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens apparently will face additional testing for performance-enhancing drugs after failing to make himself available for a random test.

Citing a source, the Dallas Morning News reported Monday that Owens has been placed in the "reasonable cause" testing program, even though he never has failed a drug test in his 12-year career and passed his most recent one.

Owens, who signed a four-year, $34 million contract extension with the Cowboys last week, met with the NFL to explain his absence. He did not appear upset by Monday's report.

"There was a communication problem involving cell phone numbers," Owens said in a statement. "I have been in the NFL for over 12 years and have never had a positive test for a substance of any kind. That includes tests that took place as recently as last month. The matter was resolved to everyone's satisfaction last Tuesday, and everyone has moved on."

Dallas owner Jerry Jones also is not concerned, saying he did not think twice about signing Owens to the extension.

"We signed Terrell to the new contract because there are no problems with Terrell," Jones told the Dallas Morning News on Monday.

The NFL cannot comment on Owens' status in the program due to confidentiality requirements.

According to the NFL's drug policy, a player not in the "reasonable cause" program may be tested up to six times during the offseason.