Steroid testing prompts concern
Steroid testing prompts concern, By: Buddy Collings
Football practice starts Monday, and players may be too scared of results
August 2, 2007
In the rush of high school fall-football practice, which opens Monday, coaches and administrators now have one more thing to worry about.
So do players.
Consent forms for Florida's new anabolic steroid random testing program, signed into law by Gov. Charlie Crist on June 19, must be signed by athletes and parents and on file before players can participate in regular-season games. For football, those openers are four weeks away.
The Florida High School Athletic Association and member schools are trying to move quickly to implement the program, but they face a challenge in a year in which most students do not start classes until the week of Aug. 20.
The law stipulated that school administrators should meet with athletes and parents before the first day of practice to explain the program.
"There might be some criticism about it being so late to the schools and parents, but we are working at breakneck speed to get this information out," FHSAA Commissioner John Stewart said. "We are sending an e-mail blast to all our schools no later than [today] to make sure we have their attention."
The steroid testing bill was re-introduced last April by State Rep. Marcelo Llorente (R-Miami), but at least one area football player thinks some athletes will be caught by surprise.
"I'm sure a lot of kids that are hearing about this today are pretty scared, because I think a lot of guys are juiced," said Nathan Keller, a middle linebacker entering his senior year at West Orange High School. "I think a lot of guys might not play football once they realize they could get tested."
Following meetings with Llorente, the FHSAA devised a gender-balanced program that will test athletes in three boys sports and three girls sports. Football is the only fall sport impacted.
The National Center for Drug Free Sport Inc., used by the NCAA for drug testing since 1999, will administer testing and randomly select schools and athletes.
Schools will be notified no fewer than seven days in advance of tests, but they cannot inform coaches or athletes. A certified collector will arrive on campus with a list of randomly selected student-athletes to be called to a private testing room to give a urine sample.
"I wouldn't be scared or nervous, because I know I'm not on steroids," Keller said. "But there are probably five kids on every football team out there that are doing at least something to get bigger."
The World Anti-Doping Agency will do lab analysis, and Drug Free Sport will notify the FHSAA of findings within 10-14 business days.
The FHSAA will alert schools, who in turn will notify students and parents.
If a student fails to provide a specimen for any reason, including an excused absence, he will be suspended from practice and competition until a specimen is provided. Rescheduled tests must be paid for by the student-athlete or school.
"We just hope that everybody cooperates as we move through this, to make sure no athlete is held out simply because the paperwork isn't done," Stewart said.
