Steroid-testing law earns a thumbs-up from local pros, By: Chris Elliott

July 26, 2007

Senate Bill 8, which was passed during the recent session of the Texas Legislature and signed by Gov. Rick Perry, provides for the first statewide random steroid testing program for University Interscholastic League participants.

And the bill, authored by State Sen. Kyle Janek, R-Houston, received wholehearted support from the Astros, Rockets, Texans and Dynamo on Wednesday.

"At the end of the day, not too many high school kids are going to care much about what a state lawmaker said," Janek said. "But when they see (Dynamo president and general manager) Oliver Luck, when they see (Dynamo midfielder) Brian Ching, when they see (Astros left fielder) Carlos Lee, when they see (Texans tackle) Eric Winston, their heroes on the sports field say, 'You can be a professional athlete. You can excel at your game, and you can do it clean and by the rules,' that's what's going to matter."

Winston said he is fortunate to have avoided exposure to steroids throughout his career.

""First and foremost, it's a health concern," Winston said. "I don't think kids realize exactly what's going on in their bodies when they take these things. They only think of upside, and they don't have any idea what the downside is.

"You have guys that get all big and they're playing well, but then they get hurt, and their bodies can't recover from that injury like it (normally) would. That's a huge downside that people don't realize about steroids."

Lee said student-athletes have been sent the wrong message about steroids.

"The message that they've got out there is that (steroids) will help you and will make you stronger and better," Lee said. "And if you're not getting tested for it, why not do it? That's the message. They're going to start testing high school students. If that's the way to stop it, go ahead."

Janek said he hopes the UIL will be able to implement testing this fall. He also said medical reviews will be utilized for students who believe they have received a false positive test and that the UIL will be responsible for penalizing those who fail.

"It's enormously important that ... the students sign an agreement saying that 'I understand that if I participate in UIL sports, I may be sampled, and that if I refuse I can't participate, and if I fail, I'll be suspended,' " Janek said. "Understanding, on the part of the students, what the rules are and what's expected of them could be this generation's no pass, no play."