Educating prep students cheaper than steroids testing, By: Tom Kreager

High school athletes heading into the upcoming school year may have many concerns - conditioning, competition for a starting spot or even passing summer school classes to retain eligibility.

But unlike their counterparts in some states, Tennessee athletes generally have no worries about being banished because of testing positive for anabolic steroids.

That is not because no performance-enhancing drugs, illegal unless prescribed by a physician, are used by any of the state's athletes. It's because that there are no statewide mandates on steroid testing.

In Tennessee, relatively few individual schools and school systems test athletes for street drugs. And even fewer test for steroids.

It's an issue of cost. It's an issue of legality.

$100 per test

Dr. David Black, president of Aegis Labs in Nashville that conducts various drug tests for schools nationwide, says tests for steroids cost approximately $100 each. That, Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Executive Director Ronnie Carter says, is more than schools can reasonably afford.

"If you are going to approach curbing the use of steroids from a global perspective, the best thing is education," said Carter, whose organization is comprised of approximately 360 member schools that have close to 70,000 athletes.

"It is impractical to do it across the nation or in Tennessee because of the number of athletes."

A little more than a year ago, the New Jersey legislature enacted a law requiring steroid testing of high school athletes on a limited basis, making it the first state with mandatory drug testing for prep athletes. It set aside $100,000 for random testing of athletes in state championship events.

Florida has followed suit, setting aside $100,000 to randomly test athletes in baseball, boys and girls weightlifting and football. And last month in Texas, legislation was approved and $3 million appropriated that would require all high school athletes to be tested for steroids, beginning with the 2007-08 school year. The Florida and Texas legislation are still awaiting signatures of those state's governors before they will become law.

"Our schools do not have the resources to do blanket testing, and when you begin taking shortcuts, you run into problems," Carter said.

"We all know so few athletes even make state championship events, and do you test the same percentage of females as males? Which sports do you test? As I understand it, the testing in New Jersey is for only about 2 percent of those in championship events. I don't know that is much of a deterrent.

"What we all can do, what we all should be doing is focusing on education, and there is no reason that 100 percent of our athletes cannot be educated about the dangers of steroid use."

A bigger problem

Black suggests steroid testing is not an effective use of state money.

"You'd probably find less than 1 percent of those you tested using them," Black said. "If it costs $100 and you found just one positive per 100 tested, that's $10,000 spent for every positive test.

"I think there may be more effective ways to prevent steroid use than testing."

Black said testing for recreation drugs such as alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and narcotics is more important. The tests are cheaper, and he said he believes those substances are being used by more prep athletes than steroids.

State Rep. Susan Lynn of Wilson County said she recently proposed a bill asking for the association to require all of its member-school athletes to watch a movie regarding the dangers of performance-enhancement drugs. Athletes would then have to sign a document pledging not to use them.

The bill failed to pass.

"They'd have to promise that they won't engage in performance-enhancing drugs to compete in the TSSAA," Lynn said. "I would like to see the TSSAA develop stronger standards toward it."

A legal matter

There is uncertainty about the legality of drug tests for students in Tennessee. A 19-year-old state law prohibits elementary and secondary public school students from being drug tested without a reasonable suspicion.

While that has not stopped numerous school systems from implementing drug testing of athletes, Rich Haglund, the general counsel for the state board of education, has requested an opinion from the state's attorney general's office regarding the legality of the practice.

Lynn said the law likely would not pertain to athletes because athletics are extra-curricular activities. Two U.S. Supreme Court decisions have allowed drug testing for those students involved in extra-curricular activities.

No public school system in Cheatham, Davidson, Robertson, Rutherford, Williamson or Wilson counties has mandated steroid-testing policies regarding high school athletes. In Sumner County, Hendersonville does have a drug-testing policy that includes steroid testing when there is probable cause.

Wilson County tests its athletes for street drugs. Gallatin in Sumner and Sycamore in Cheatham also test for street drugs.

Why the use?

Anabolic steroids promote the storage of protein and the growth of muscle size and strength, but there are potentially dangerous side-affects.

However, in a 2005 survey compiled by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and the association, 24 percent of the more than 900 coaches interviewed said they thought they had coached an athlete in the past that had used performance-enhancing drugs or supplements.

And 69 percent of those interviewed said that performance-enhancing drug use in high school students was "somewhat prevalent."

"I'm not 100 percent sure, but I think I've been on the field with kids that have used them," said Marshall County senior Dont'a Hightower, who has emerged as one of the state's top football prospects.

"Some parents actually push their kids to use steroids. They think it gives them an edge on the field and in the weight room. But I think that if you play any sport, you should be tested for steroid use. You should not be allowed to take things that hurt your body to gain an advantage."

"Testing is not going to hurt anyone unless they are taking steroids," said Riverdale lineman David Spurlock, another of the state's top prospects. "How much work you put out is what you get back, not taking a drug to make you better. That's like cheating to me."

Is it a problem?

The Texas legislation was the culmination of the effort by Don Hooton, whose son Taylor committed suicide four years ago while on steroids because he was told he was not big enough to compete in baseball. With Texas aboard, Hooton is campaigning to have all states enact similar laws.

Joe Catignani, father of Pope John Paul II three-sport athlete Stephen Catignani, said he doesn't know why anyone would not be for it.

"I don't know if it's a problem," Joe Catignani said. "If we don't stay on top of it, it will be."

Senior Corban Joseph, a shortstop on Franklin's baseball team, said he wouldn't have a problem with steroid testing.

"Everyone knows it is out there," Joseph said. "I don't know anyone personally that does it. I think some could take it under the table where they don't talk about it."