Student Athletes May Face Statewide Drug Testing, By: Steve Pickett

10/20/06

GRAND PRAIRIE The state of Texas already requires students to take the TAKS test for academics, but now there is talk of a required drug test for athletics. Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst wants mandatory steroid testing for high school athletes.

The proposal for statewide drug testing could cost millions.

Fifty school districts in Texas already test for drugs including steroids. Those tests are financed with federal grants. They will need a lot more money for a state mandated program.

In the Grand Prairie Independent School District, mandatory drug testing began at the start of the school year. “At the beginning of the school year, we tested almost 1000 students with only four hits. So, what we’re seeing are low results,” said Sam Buchmeyer of the Grand Prairie ISD.

Low results apparently have not lowered the high level of concern regarding Texas teen athletes and steroids.

Anyone involved in any extracurricular activity is tested, and also faces the possibility of random testing. The Carroll Independent School District in Southlake and the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District both also have mandatory drug test requirements for participants in extracurricular activities including cheerleading, football and band.

Two years ago, a number of football players acknowledged using steroids.

Sports medicine specialist Jeff Goudreau said that the call for student testing could be a call to combat a growing trend among Texas teen athletes. “It’s amazing,” he said. “It’s just amazing how many kids want a competitive edge more than just vitamins or working out at the gym. Everybody’s got to win.”

Goudreau also warned, “There’s a lot of long term side effects with steroids.”

The drug testing proposal will head to the state legislature in the next session.