Tragedies of Steroid Use

July 30, 2007

Students who are using steroids probably aren't going to admit it, but one coach says he knows firsthand what can happen when athletes turn to drugs to improve their performance.

In his freshman year at New Mexico Highlands University, Bowie football coach Luis Gallardo was watching his teammate lift weights, but during the workout, his teammate began to shake and passed out. After rushing him to the hospital the coaches came in and told them their teammate passed away.

The UIL wants to keep tragedies like Coach Gallardo's from happening in Texas high school football. The plan: random steroid testing. Regardless of whether the UIL develops random testing, Coach Gallardo says he's telling his story to keep his players off the juice.

El Paso High School football coach Ron Dentinger says he doesn't think steroids are a major problem in El Paso, and that he's more concerned about players abusing over-the-counter supplements.