Public school athletes to face steroid testing

April 12, 2007

AUSTIN (AP) — Texas public school athletes would face mandatory random steroids tests as early as next fall under a Senate bill approved Tuesday that would create the largest high school testing program in the country.

The program would test at least 22,000, about 3 percent, public school athletes. Students who test positive would have to sit out of competition for 30 days, and repeat positive tests could lead to a permanent ban.

The bill passed 28-2 and now goes to the House, which gave preliminary approval to a similar but less specific measure Tuesday night.

The biggest difference between the two chambers is how to pay for it. The Senate would have the state bear the cost of about $4 million per year, although some experts have said that figure is too low.