NJSIAA set to begin steroid testing in fall, By: Walt Burrows

May 10, 2006

ROBBINSVILLE -- The NJSIAA's steroid testing policy is in place and ready for implementation beginning with championship events in October.

The project's undertaking was charged by former Gov. Richard E. Codey on Dec. 20 to the association in the form of random selection of student-athletes who have qualified, as individuals or as members of a team, for state championship competition.

The number of athletes tested in any school year shall not exceed five percent of the total number of athletes participating in championship competition the previous year.

Sixty percent of all tests shall be from football, wrestling, track and field, swimming, lacrosse and baseball. The remaining 40 percent shall be from all other NJSIAA sports selected at the start of each season. Testing may occur at any state championship tournament or site. The selection of particular athletes shall be random.

"We're happy it's in place but we still have work to do," said Bob Baly, an assistant director of the state's governing body of high school athletics who represents the association on the committee. "People have been very positive in our preliminary discussions."

Tests will be administered by a certified laboratory, selected by the executive director (Steve Timko) and approved by the executive committee.

If a certified laboratory reports that a student-athlete's sample has tested positive and the medical review officer confirms that there is no medical reason for a positive result, a penalty shall be imposed unless the student-athlete proves, by a preponderance of evidence, that he or she bears no fault or negligence for the violation. There is an appeal process in place, reaching to the commissioner of education, for public-school athletes, and to the Superior Court, for non-public school athletes.