Time to test for steroids

09/14/06

Opinions on testing high school athletes for drugs are growing louder.

Some say it's about time high schools test. Others insist it's too expensive and not worth the trouble.

I spent most of this summer researching and talking to dozens of people, including many experts, on the subject. Most prep coaches and athletes in the northwest suburbs that I interviewed agreed testing would discourage teens from experimenting.

But the majority also believed it would be a waste of effort because performance-enhancing drugs aren't a problem at their schools, in their programs.

It would be a good way to stop "the other guy" from using steriods.

People know these drugs cause considerable harm to those who use them. Not having testing for them is like agreeing that speeding contributes to car crashes, but being unwilling to endorse limits.

The IHSA, once a believer in drug prevention through education, now is moving forward on testing. The organization wants to be proactive in dealing with a problem that most in this area think doesn't apply to their kids.

I'm not suggesting athletes at local schools are using steroids. But it wouldn't be wise for coaches, administrators and parents at those schools to rely on a gut feeling.

Not only are performance-enhancing drugs capable of causing unhealthy side effects, athletes who use them are cheating.

Frank Uryasz, the director at The National Center For Drug Free Sport, said testing is necessary in today's athletic climate. After all, a student can listen all semester about the hazards of driving too fast, but it's the police officer waiting with a ticket that makes drivers slow down.