Written by
Andrew Petersen
May 26, 2008
It’s an issue to which state high school associations and legislatures have devoted significant time and money.
But who is using performance-enhancing drugs at the high school level?
There are documented cases of football players, wrestlers and even cheerleaders using anabolic steroids and other substances to boost their success.
In 2003, a study released by the Center for Disease Control suggested close to 6 percent (300,000) of high school students had used some sort of steroid without a prescription at least once.
In its research leading up to a formal ban and eventually a testing program, the Illinois High School Association found that more recent studies vary, but that numbers of high school steroid users hover closer to 3 percent. That translates to an average of one in 13 Illinois high school athletes, according to IHSA data.
“It all sort of came together and made people open their eyes and say, ‘This is happening here in Illinois, just like it’s happening in California, Texas, New Jersey, you name it,’ ” IHSA assistant executive director Kurt Gibson said.
“ ‘Now do we want to do something about it?’ And that’s when our membership said, ‘Yeah, we want to do something.’ ”
Steroid allegations already have reached the surrounding area.
As was previously reported in various media outlets, wrestler at Sterling High School was arrested in late January for steroid possession.
“We hear rumors,” Rock Island Alleman athletic director Steve Smithers said. “We try to respond carefully when we hear those. I’m sure there is some abuse going on.
“I don’t think we have a major problem. But we don’t want it to become a major problem.”
Oklahoma doesn’t have a statewide testing program, but last month the state’s Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control began investigating allegations of high school students buying performance-enhancing drugs. The agency received numerous calls from coaches at large and small schools who suspected players of steroid use.
In New Jersey, a young woman recently opened up to media about her steroid use as a teen. When she was a high school cheerleader, Dionne Roberts bought steroids from a member of the football team in hopes of toning her body.
Riverdale principal Jim Boyd, who sits on the IHSA Board of Directors, has thought quite a bit about who could be using steroids, though he said he hasn’t suspected anyone at his school.
“Are there kids here?” Boyd said. “Maybe. I doubt it, but you don’t know. In the Quad-City area, possibly.
“Nothing surprises me anymore.”
