State likely to pass steroid testing bill, By: Buddy Collins

Posted May 4, 2007 

Legislators in Tallahassee today are expected to pass a bill that would make Florida the second state to institute a statewide anabolic steroid testing program for high school athletes.

If signed by Gov. Charlie Crist, House Bill 461 would require the Florida High School Athletic Association to launch a pilot program by randomly testing 1 percent of all participants in football, baseball and weightlifting during the 2007-08 school year.

Dropped from the bill Thursday was a controversial Senate-sponsored amendment that would create a separate governing body and playoff system for private schools. That addendum, authored by Sen. Daniel Webster (R-Winter Garden), appeared unlikely to be considered as the legislative session comes to a close today.

"It's a last-minute attempt to set up a structure that is not well thought out," said Skardon Bliss, executive director of the Florida Council of Independent Schools. "It was not good for private schools."

Steroid testing, proposed for a third time by State Rep. Marcelo Llorente (R-Miami), has much broader support.

"Let's put it this way: If it stops some youngsters from using steroids, it's a very good thing," said John Stewart, commissioner of the FHSAA.

The bill states that an athlete who tests positive would be suspended from practice and competition for 90 days. On the 60th school day of the suspension, the athlete would be allowed another test that, if negative, would result in reinstatement.

Although most area administrators were concerned with costs, the bill states "all expenses shall be paid with funds appropriated by the Legislature."

Stewart said the FHSAA does not have money to test for performance-enhancing drugs.

"Obviously, it will have to be narrowed to the extent the [new] funding will provide," Stewart said.

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, which became the first state association to test for performance-enhancing drugs this school year, pays $175 per test. By directive of former Gov. Richard Codey, the NJSIAA is testing a random sample of 500 athletes at its fall, winter and spring sports state tournaments.

American Heritage football coach and athletic director Byron Walker is pleased to see the steroid issue addressed, even though it was initially attached to the proposal for splitting public and private school governing bodies.

"It's unfortunate that the other stuff was attached to that steroid bill," Walker said.

"We need steroid legislation because it's definitely an issue."