Texas high schools get tough on steroid abuse, By: Christopher Lawlor

Texas high school athletes have been warned: Using anabolic steroids will result in suspensions and permanent bans from athletics.

This fall, athletes will be subject to random steroid testing. Gov. Rick Perry signed a bill earlier this month enacting the largest and most ambitious high school testing program in the nation. The state has set aside $3 million a year for the next two years to conduct the testing.

"Steroid use is a growing problem that must not be allowed to take root in Texas schools," Perry said. "We cannot allow our young athletes to put their lives at risk for a short-term gain on a field of competition. This bill will give us the tools we need to combat steroid use in our schools and protect our children."

About 130 of the state's 1,300 public high schools test for steroids. The state's governing body for interscholastic athletics will run the program. The estimated 22,000 tested must come from at least 30% of the state's high school districts. Additionally, all coaches in grades 7-12 must undergo training on the impact and symptoms of steroid use.

Bill Farney, executive director of Texas's University Interscholastic League (UIL), said random testing will begin in the fall for male and female athletes in all sports. The testing, patterned after NCAA programs, requires athletes to submit urine samples, which would be sent to a central testing center.

Penalties to be enforced by the UIL:

•A 30-day suspension from participating in athletics for the first violation.

•Suspension for the remainder of the school year for the second violation. First- and second-time violators will be reinstated after passing a test paid for by the violator.

•A permanent ban for the balance of violator's athletic career for the third violation.

The bill, authored by Sen. Kyle Janek, R-Houston, passed 140-4 in the Texas House in May. "This is historical, and we are cognizant of what New Jersey did," Janek said, referring to the first state to enact a testing program. "But right from the beginning we wanted to sample all students in all sports, and not target sports like football and baseball."

New Jersey, which enacted its program last year, tested about 500 athletes in 31 sports during the 2006-07 school year who qualified individually or with their teams for the postseason. In May, Florida approved a one-year pilot program that will test athletes in baseball, weightlifting and football.