Local School District Considers Strict Steroid Use Penalties, By: Carina Corral

Board meeting to be held Tuesday night, 7:00 p.m., at Laguna Middle School

October 2, 2006

According to a survey by the Centers for Disease Control, steroid use among U.S. high school students doubled between 1991 and 2003. In another study, of 15,000 students surveyed, more than 6% admitted to trying steroids. All this occurred while less than 4% of the nation's high schools were testing for the performance-enhancing drug.

San Luis Coastal Unified District is looking to flex its muscle when it comes to punishing students caught using steroids. Tuesday night at 7:00, District Board members will discuss imposing stricter penalities on athletes caught using drugs.

But the policy is already failing the test among some members of the San Luis High School football team. Ask these football players, and most will tell you that student athletes, right here on the Central Coast, are using steroids.

"It's not a lot," says football player Stephen Bravo. "It's definitely a select few. But they are out there and they're taking away playing time from other players who have been doing it the right way."

Currently, the San Luis High School District does not have a no-steroid policy. Athletes are just required to sign a statement pledging not to use drugs and agreeing to be punished if they do.

Under the new policy, athletes are singled out. They could be suspended from sports for the duration of the season and face expulsion.

What's not included in the policy is random drug testing. So, how does one prove drug use without a drug test?

Craig Winninghoff, football coach, says, "I think it'll be very difficult unless you have kids turning in kids or parents turning in their kids."

And this is exactly what district officials are counting on: whistleblowers, like Cori Slucum, a member of the San Luis Obispo High School Athletic Training Staff who has witnessed steroid use firsthand.

"They have capsules with them, anabolic steroids -- you can read it on the label -- taking them in the weight room, right before and sometimes after lifting weights," says Slocum, a senior.

Coaches, players and parents alike support a drug testing policy.

Dave Slocum, Cori's father, concurs. "My feelings are, if you're not cheating, you have nothing to hide. So I wouldn't have any problem with that. None whatsoever."

But it's up to the District to impose one.

Currently, Templeton is the only district on the Central Coast to have a random drug testing policy.

The San Luis Coastal Unified School District Board will consider the new steroid policy tomorrow night, Tuesday, October 3. The meeting will held at 7:00 p.m. at Laguna Middle School, 11050 Los Osos Valley Road, in the Multi-Purpose Room.