It will hardly come as a surprise, but is great news for the Canadian Football League and its faithful: There will be a new collective bargaining agreement between the league and the CFL Players Association before the 2010 season opens in just over a month.

There had been some rumblings over the winter of a work stoppage, although those who follow the league closely knew this was an extreme longshot.

And while details have yet to be released, it’s worth noting the new deal will contain a drug-testing policy.

More details as we get them.

-Ed Tait

Here is the CFL statement released this afternoon:

Media Statement on the CFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement

Toronto, ON - (May 26, 2010) - The Canadian Football League Player Relations Committee and Canadian Football League Players' Association have reached a tentative agreement on the terms of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. This agreement remains subject to ratification votes by the Players and CFL Board of Governors, which will be conducted in advance of the regular season kickoff on July 1.

The new Collective Bargaining Agreement contains a drug testing policy but the details of such policy will not be released until the Agreement has been ratified.

By agreement of the parties, there will be no further comment on any of the terms of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement until the ratification process is complete.