Steroid Synopsis, By: Kevin Bigley
April 29, 2006
In 2004, the steroid controversy hit the sports world like a bombshell. Baseball especially has experienced much of the aftershock with the Victor Conte BALCO scandal that shoved such star athletes as Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield, and Barry Bonds into the steroid limelight. However, the after effects of the steroid scandal have been bigger than the Major Leagues. Star athletes have brought upon the pressure of college, high school and even junior high school athletes to do whatever they can to make it to the pros. DePaul, however, has cut the problem at its source and inflicted a strong drug testing policy for nearly 20 years.
The NCAA began drug testing around the mid-1980s, but very few followed their lead. DePaul was one of the pioneers to take on a drug testing program, and as the technology improved, the testing became more precise. “We can pick up anything from steroids to secondhand smoke,” said Athletic Director Jean Ponsetto. Ponsetto went on to elaborate that this is possible thanks to the testing facilities that the testing program is allowed to use.
When an athlete is tested, a urine sample is sent off to one of many testing labs where it is tested multiple times and even protected by lock and key to prevent from tampering. The testing lab is called MedTox. The testing can pick up any kind of hardcore drug such as heroin or even a smaller drug like marijuana. Any steroid can be picked up as well, from Winstrol (an old steroid that body builders have used for years) to Human Growth Hormone (a newer kind of steroid that many of the pro athletes were using). Any kind of masking agents will be easily picked up in case an athlete attempts to cover up that drug usage.
According to Ponsetto, it is DePaul’s belief that being an athlete and playing for the school is a privilege, not a right. Therefore, as an athlete, students must comply to the program’s strict testing policy. A policy that many claim “runs circles around those of MLB and the NFL,” Ponsetto said. Upon receiving a scholarship or admittance to the school, athletes must sign a variety of forms consenting to frequent drug testing. Every athlete is tested during the season, while track and field athletes are tested year around by the NCAA. The NCAA rarely drug tests schools unless it is a championship series, game or event.
Even with this strict program and tough drug testing policy, it is still difficult to restrain athletes from using such drugs. When asked how he keeps his players off of such drugs, Coach Wainwright said, “There is plenty of warning to all of the players. They’ve seen the side effects. They know what can happen to their bodies, and it’s not pretty. Steroids damage the integrity of every game and destroy the players within it.”
In a survey was conducted by WellnessMD.com, about 2.1 percent of high school and 1 percent of junior high school students say they have abused performance enhancing drugs, such as steroids. “Those numbers don’t seem large, but they are,” said Wainwright. “They are destroying their bodies. It’s just wrong.”
Steroids are not only becoming more obtainable, but are becoming easier to use. The most common drugs on the market is called “The Cream” and “The Clear.” These steroids are less detectable and are very easy to apply. The Cream is a steroid that comes in a kind of rub that an athlete can use to rub on his legs and upper body. The Clear is a steroid that is squirted under the tongue with a needless syringe. Both will result in a bigger stronger body. These are the more advanced kinds of drugs that have revolutionized the market.
However, these are not the ones that most college athletes use. According to polls taken on WellnessMD.com, the steroids most often used are Winstrol and Growth Hormone because they are easier to obtain and have higher testosterone levels.
Both of these drugs are very dangerous and have the worst side effects because they carry the most testosterone. “Those are the easiest to detect because we can look at their testosterone level and it’ll be sky rocketing.” said Amy Ingraffia, director of Sports Medicine at DePaul. “The more ancient the drug, usually the higher the testosterone level.”
The difference between DePaul and such pro leagues as the NFL, NBA, or MLB, is that DePaul will never look the other way. “Every team is tested once a year,” said Ponsetto. “You get 24 hours notification and then we test.”
Many of the writers, trainers, coaches, and even the other players used to look the other way when someone was juicing, but it has never been like that at DePaul because of its zero tolerance policy. “I know if they are,” said Coach Wainwright. “I know if they’re juicing because you can just tell. It’s so easy. I’ve never had a player test positive because they know that I would stop it right away.” Unlike other sports institutions, DePaul is committed to securing the safety of their athletes. “It’s just wrong,” said Wainwright, “I don’t see why people use them or argue for them. It’s just wrong.”
