Steroid-use rules up for debate in Moreno Valley school district, By: Imran Vittachi

August 14, 2006

The Moreno Valley school board on Tuesday, Aug. 15, will consider toughening its policy on steroids so the district can comply with a policy of the California Interscholastic Federation, the state’s scholastic sports governing body.

Changes to the existing Moreno Valley policy, mandated last year, would require student athletes and their parents or guardians to sign an agreement that athletes shall not use steroids unless they have a physician’s prescription for a medical condition.

They wouldn’t impose random testing to screen athletes for steroid use, but any student caught violating the agreement could be banned from interscholastic sports or be suspended or expelled from school, said Moreno Valley Unified School District spokesman Scott Johnson.

Under the revised policy, Moreno Valley schools could not accept sponsorships or donations from makers of muscle-building supplements.

The trustees will discuss the issue at Tuesday’s meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. in the board room at district headquarters,