State considers steroid testing in high schools, By: Hector Trujillo

07/22/07

The California Assembly is considering legislation that will allow random steroid testing among high school athletes.

Assembly Bill 1319 would require athletes competing in California Interscholastic Federation events to consent in writing to testing for steroids.

“I have never been against anything that keeps our kids safer,” said Tom Goossen, Arroyo Grande High School football coach. “If it keeps kids doing the right thing, then I am up for it.”

The legislation, sponsored by Assemblyman Guy Houston, R-Livermore, would require the CIF to adopt rules and administer an anabolic urinalysis steroid testing program for student-athletes.

The random testing would occur four times a year at selected high schools and include 10 percent of the competing athletes.

Currently, high school athletes are only required to sign a form agreeing not to use steroids without the written prescription of a licensed physician.

“Right now, you only need to sign a pledge that you are not going to use illegal dietary supplements,” said Aaron Boone, spokesman for Houston. “The goal is to make sure students are taking this issue seriously. Many students see professional athletes as role models and sometimes make the same mistakes they do.”

Following California's lead, the Texas Legislature is presently considering its own version of steroid testing for high school students.

“It comes down to money and how it is going to be maintained,” Goossen added. “We have become a lot more aware of the symptoms that kids will exhibit since I was a student.”

Goossen graduate from Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks and took over as AGHS football coach earlier this year. AGHS ended up with a 2-3 record in the PAC-7 and in a three-way tie for third place but missed a shot at the playoffs last season.

“Typically, when you have a mandate from the Legislature, it is accompanied by state funding,” Boone added. “The CIF will be in charge of the testing and overseeing the schools during competitions as it does now.”

The proposed testing program would limit the disclosure of test results and provide a process for testing back-up samples.

According the CIF bylaws, a student may be subject to penalties, including ineligibility for any CIF competition, if the student or his or her parent or guardian provides CIF with false or fraudulent information regarding the use of steroids.